matures

Matures is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb mature. It denotes the process of reaching full development, readiness, or ripeness. The term can describe living beings, seeds, fruit, and other things that change toward a final, stable state. It is also used in finance to indicate that a financial instrument has reached its due date or redemption; for example, a bond or loan matures.

In biology and agriculture, to mature means to attain reproductive capability or edible readiness. In humans and animals, maturation refers to physical, cognitive, and emotional development. In everyday usage, something described as mature is fully developed, appropriate, or grown, such as mature trees or mature content. The related noun maturity refers to the state of being mature or the point at which a financial instrument becomes due.

Etymology: mature derives from Latin maturus meaning ripe or ready; through Old French maturer into Middle English. The verb forms include mature, matures, matured, maturing; the adjective forms include mature and maturer.

See also: maturity, maturation, ripen, develop, grow.