# maturation

/ˌmætʃɝˈeɪʃən/ (US) · /mətʃɔːɹˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/maturation
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. biological/personal growth

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the natural process of growing up and becoming an adult.

For teachers: the process of reaching full physical or psychological development. Uncountable in its general sense.

- The physical maturation of teenagers happens at different speeds for everyone.
- Psychologists study the maturation of cognitive functions to determine when children are capable of abstract reasoning.

Usage: Often used with 'of' to describe the subject undergoing the change.

### 2. development of a system or idea

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

the way a plan, idea, or market becomes more advanced and stable over time.

For teachers: the process by which a system, market, or abstract concept reaches a state of stability or full development.

- We are seeing the maturation of the electric car market as prices drop.
- The maturation of the political movement led to more moderate policies and broader public support.

Usage: Frequently appears in business and political contexts to describe stability.

### 3. aging of food or drink

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the time it takes for things like cheese or wine to develop their full flavor.

For teachers: the process of aging or ripening, particularly in food science, to achieve a desired chemical state or flavor profile.

- The maturation of this cheese takes at least twelve months in a cool cellar.
- During the maturation of the whiskey in oak barrels, complex chemical reactions occur that define its final character.

Usage: Commonly used in the context of fermentation and curing.

### 4. medical suppuration

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

the process of a wound or infection becoming full of pus before it heals.

For teachers: the process of an abscess or wound reaching full suppuration. Technical register used in clinical contexts.

- The doctor monitored the maturation of the infection to decide when to treat it.
- Clinical observation of the maturation of the lesion is necessary before surgical intervention can be safely performed.

## Examples

- The maturation of the child takes many years.
- The maturation of the wine requires several years of aging in oak barrels to develop its full flavor.
- The rapid maturation of the adolescent brain during the teenage years explains why young people often exhibit both high levels of risk-taking and significant emotional sensitivity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.