Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The process of becoming mature.
  • noun 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.
  • noun The final differentiation processes in biological systems, such as the final ripening of a seed or the attainment of full functional capacity by a cell, a tissue, or an organ.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In cytology and embryology, the final stage in the development of the germcells (ovum and spermatozoön). This stage is characterized by certain changes in the chromosomes, especially a reduction in their number to one half of that of the chromosomes in the somatic or body cells.
  • noun The process of ripening or coming to maturity; a bringing to maturity; hence, a carrying out; consummation.
  • noun In medicine, a ripening or maturing, as of an abscess; formation of pus; suppuration.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The process of bringing, or of coming, to maturity; hence, specifically, the process of suppurating perfectly; the formation of pus or matter.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The process of becoming mature
  • noun biology The process of differentiation that produces the adult form of an organism

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
  • noun coming to full development; becoming mature
  • noun (medicine) the formation of morbific matter in an abscess or a vesicle and the discharge of pus

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

maturate +‎ -ion

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Examples

  • For although some brains work differently than others I believe our maturation is a sum of our experiences, not how we process them.

    Ashley's Treatment Dave Hingsburger 2007

  • Defaulting on debt – as in Treasuries due to be paid to the bond holders at maturation, is ONE THING.

    Matthew Yglesias » US vs Zimbabwe 2010

  • Her maturation is a constant source of mystery and tension, but she also plays the role of catalyst, leaving our hipster-nerd scientists to make their own bad decisions and push forward the drama themselves.

    Movie Review: Splice » Scene-Stealers 2010

  • Further reductions in maturation time have been realized with the third generation of DsRed mutants, which also display an increased brightness level in terms of peak cellular fluorescence.

    Archive 2005-10-01 2005

  • During his interview with the AP after the team's morning shootaround, Bryant would not answer a follow-up question on his self-described stubbornness and proclivity to hold a grudge, and how those qualities have remained constants during his maturation from a teenage NBA rookie into an eight-year veteran.

    USATODAY.com - Bryant finally speaks, ending 11-day silence 2004

  • "They're undergoing a long-term maturation in terms of the strength of their institutions, their commitment to market-oriented policies and their abilities to navigate a very unsettled market environment," he says.

    Kiplinger Personal Finance 2010

  • Heino M, O'Brien L, Dieckmann U (2004) Long-term maturation trend in the maturation reaction norm of two cod stocks.

    PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Anna Kuparinen et al. 2008

  • DOE's Hydrogen, Fuel Cell and Infrastructure Technologies program is helping enable the long-term maturation of hydrogen technologies.

    U.S. Department of Energy - Press Releases 2008

  • Understanding the bones isn’t the same as understanding the body. — – Evident creative maturation is an easy one.

    I want to be a “major” poet! : Patricia Smith : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007

  • Their maturation has been a long time reaching this point but I'm afraid suppuration will begin again from the re-infection and contamination by the homo-haters that are spread throughout the body politic.

    SEVEN THOUSAND Lashes and Twenty Blows to the Head 2007

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