premature

[ pree-muh-choo r, -too r, -tyoo r, pree-muh-choo r or, esp. British, prem-uh-, prem-uh- ]
/ ˌpri məˈtʃʊər, -ˈtʊər, -ˈtyʊər, ˈpri məˌtʃʊər or, esp. British, ˌprɛm ə-, ˈprɛm ə- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR premature ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

occurring, coming, or done too soon: a premature announcement.
mature or ripe before the proper time.

noun

a premature infant.

Origin of premature

From the Latin word praemātūrus, dating back to 1520–30. See pre-, mature

OTHER WORDS FROM premature

Words nearby premature

prem, prem., premalignant, premarin, premarital, premature, premature birth, premature delivery, premature ejaculation, premature labor, premature systole

Words related to premature

immature, untimely, incomplete, hasty, ill-considered, abortive, embryonic, forward, green, inopportune, precipitate, previous, raw, soon, undeveloped, unripe, unanticipated, unfledged, half-baked, half-cocked

Example sentences from the Web for premature

British Dictionary definitions for premature

premature
/ (ˌprɛməˈtjʊə, ˈprɛməˌtjʊə) /

adjective

occurring or existing before the normal or expected time
impulsive or hasty a premature judgment
(of an infant) weighing less than 2500 g (5 1/2 lbs) and usually born before the end of the full period of gestation

Derived forms of premature

prematurely, adverb prematureness or prematurity, noun

Word Origin for premature

C16: from Latin praemātūrus, very early, from prae in advance + mātūrus ripe

Medical definitions for premature

premature
[ prē′mə-chur′, -tur′ ]

adj.

Occurring or developing before the usual or expected time.
Born after a gestation period of less than the normal time, especially, in human infants, after a period of less than 37 weeks.

Other words from premature

pre′ma•tu′ri•ty n.