maturation

[ mach-uh-rey-shuh n ]
/ ˌmætʃ əˈreɪ ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR maturation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or process of maturating.

Origin of maturation

1350–1400; Middle English: suppuration < Medieval Latin mātūrātiōn- (stem of mātūrātiō). See maturate, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM maturation

mat·u·ra·tion·al, adjective non·mat·u·ra·tion, noun

Words nearby maturation

mattress suture, matty, matulane, matura diamond, maturate, maturation, maturation arrest, maturation division, mature, mature bacteriophage, mature cataract

VOCAB BUILDER

What does maturation mean?

Maturation is the process of reaching a stage of full or advanced development.

In other words, maturation is the process of maturating (or maturing) or of reaching maturity.

The word is often used to refer to the process of a person developing physically or starting to act more grown-up (more mature). It can also be applied to plants or other living things to refer to their development process, such as the ripening of a fruit.

Maturation can also be used in more specific and technical ways, including to refer to the formation of reproductive cells or to the production or discharge of pus, such as from a wound (which is more commonly called suppuration).

Example: It’s been a privilege to witness the maturation of these students over the last four years.

Where does maturation come from?

The first records of maturation come from around 1400. It derives from the Latin verb mātūrāre, meaning “to grow ripe” or “to bring to maturity.” In Middle English, maturation meant “suppuration” (the discharge of pus from a wound) and is still sometimes used in this way today.

Maturation is the noun form of the verb maturate. Maturate means about the same thing as mature, but it’s much more formal and much less commonly used—it’s almost always used in technical contexts. A person usually isn’t said to maturate—they mature. Maturation, however, is perhaps most commonly used to refer to the process of a person maturing. Its other uses are often scientific, especially within the field of biology.

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What are some other forms of maturation?

  • mature (verb, adjective)
  • maturate (verb)
  • maturational (adjective)
  • nonmaturation (noun)

What are some synonyms for maturation?

What are some words that share a root or word element with maturation? 

What are some words that often get used in discussing maturation?

How is maturation used in real life?

Maturation is often used in a formal or technical way.

 

 

Try using maturation!

True or False? 

Maturation always means the same thing as maturity.

Words related to maturation

ability, experience, sophistication, capability, manhood, wisdom, prosperity, advance, achievement, win, accomplishment, profit, benefit, victory, gain, realization, progress, happiness, fame, triumph

Example sentences from the Web for maturation

British Dictionary definitions for maturation

maturation
/ (ˌmætjʊˈreɪʃən, ˌmætʃʊ-) /

noun

the process of maturing or ripening
zoology the development of ova and spermatozoa from precursor cells in the ovary and testis, involving meiosis
a less common word for suppuration

Derived forms of maturation

maturational, adjective

Medical definitions for maturation

maturation
[ măch′ə-rā′shən ]

n.

The process of becoming mature.
Production or discharge of pus.
The processes by which gametes are formed, including the reduction of chromosomes in a germ cell from the diploid number to the haploid number by meiosis.
The final differentiation processes in biological systems, such as the attainment of total functional capability by a cell, a tissue, or an organ.

Other words from maturation

mat′u•ra′tion•al adj.