The
`American
`Heritage® Dictionary
`of the English Language
`
`FOURTH EDITION
`
`RECEIVED
`
`JAN 0 5 2006
`FOLEY & LARDNER
`Madison Library
`
`HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
`Boston New York
`
`AVX CORPORATION 1013
`
`000001
`
`

`
`Words are included in this Dictionary on the basis of their usage.
`Words that are known to have current trademark registrations are
`shown with an initial capital and are also identified as trademarks. No
`investigation has been made of common-law trademark rights in any
`word, because such investigation is impracticable. The inclusion of any
`word in this Dictionary is not, however, an expression of the
`Publisher's opinion as to whether or not it is subject to proprietary
`rights. Indeed, no definition in this Dictionary is to be regarded as
`affecting the validity of any trademark.
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`American Heritage® and the eagle logo are registered trademarks of
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`Copyright © 2000 Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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`Library of Congress Cataloging-in -Publication Data
`
`The American Heritage dictionary of the English language.-4th ed.
`cm.
`P. (cid:9)
`ISBN 0-395-82517-2 (hardcover) — ISBN 0-618-08230-1
`(hardcover with CD ROM)
`1. English language–Dictionaries
`PE1628 .A623 2000
`423–dc21
`
`00-025369
`
`Manufactured in the 'United States of America
`
`000002
`
`

`
`centroid I cerebellum
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`flee.]
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`rota-
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`sters
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`cit-
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`ken -
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`non, center; see CENTER + baros, weight; see gwera-1 in Appendix Ll
`centroid (slnetroid") n. 1. See center of mass. 2. The point in a
`•
`system of masses each of whose coordinates is a weighted mean of coor-
`dinates of the sathe dimension of points within the system, the weights
`being determined by the density function of the system.
`cen•tro•lec•i•thal (sin'tra-lisfa-thal) adj. Biology Having the
`yolk located in the center: a centrolecithal egg. [CENTRO- + LECITH(IN) +
`-AC.]
`cen•tro•mere (senftra-mir') n. The most condensed and constrict-
`ed region of a chromosome, to which the spindle fiber is attached during
`mitosis. --cen'tro•merfic (-rnIrfik, -mirf-) adj.
`censtro•some (stri!tra-sOmi /1. A small region of cytoplasm adja-
`cent to the nucleus that contains the centrioles and serves to organize mi-
`crotubules. —cen'tro•solmic (-sOlmik) adj.
`cen.tro•sphere (stnftra-sfirr) n. 1. The mass of cytoplasm sur-
`rounding the centriole in a centrosome. 2. The central core of the earth.
`Also called barysphere.
`cen•trum (senrtram) n., pl. -trums or -tra (-tra) The major part of
`a vertebra, exclusive of the bases of the neural arch. [Latin, center. See
`CENTER.]
`cen•tum (Ic'enftam) adj. Designating those Indo-European languages,
`including the Italic, Hellenic, Celtic and Germanic subfamilies, that
`merged the palatal velar stops with the plain velars k, g, gh and main-
`, gr", g"h. [Latin,
`tained a distinction between them and the labiovelars
`hundred (a word whose initial sound in classical Latin illustrates the
`preservation of the Indo-European palatal velar as a velar k). See dekrp
`in Appendix I.]
`cen•tu•rison (stn-to-orft-Dn, -tyo-Ort-) 11. The commander of a cen-
`tury in the Roman army. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin
`centuriii, centurian-, from centuria, group of a hundred. See CENTURY.]
`cen•tu•ry (senlcha-re) n., pl. -ries 1. Abbr. C. or C. or cent. a. A
`period of 100 years. b. Each of the successive periods of 100 years before
`or since the advent of the Christian era. 2a. A unit of the Roman army
`originally consisting of 100 men. b. One of the 193 electoral divisions of
`the Roman people. 3. A group of 100 things. [Latin centuria, a group of
`a hundred, from centum, hundred. See dekrp in Appendix I.] —cen•
`tutri•al adj. —cenftu•ry•long' adj.
`century plant n. See agave.
`CEO abbr. chief executive officer
`ce•orl (chEf fall) n. A freeman of the lowest class in Anglo-Saxon Eng-
`land. [Old English.]
`cep or cepe (s6p) n. See porcino. [French cepe, from Gaston cep, tree
`trunk, cep, from Latin cipus, cippus, post, boundary marker.]
`cephal - pref. Variant of cephalo-.
`ceph•a•lad (stifa-ltld') adv. Biology Toward the head or anterior
`section.
`ceph•al•al•gia (stf'a-raltja, -je-D) n. Pain in the head; a headache.
`ceph•a•lexein (sti'a-ltkfsin) n. A semisynthetic analogue of ceph-
`alosporin, C HI-117N304S, used especially in the treatment of respiratory
`and urinary tract infections. [Blend of CEPHAL(OSPOR)IN and ex- (prob-
`ably alteration of HEx(A)-, from the six carbon atoms comprising the
`phenyl group that distinguishes it from cephalosporin).1
`ce•phal•ic (sa-f Alfa) adj. 1. Of or relating to the head. 2. Located
`on, in, or near the head. [French cephalique, from Latin cephalicus, from
`Greek kephalikos, from kephale, head. See ghebh-el- in Appendix I.]
`—ce•phalli•cal•ly adv.
`-cephalic suff. Having a specified kind or number of heads: doh-
`chocephalic.
`cephalic index n. The ratio of the maximum width of the head to
`its maximum length, multiplied by 100.
`ceph ma • I in (sifta-lin) also keph•a•lin (kW-) n. Any of a group of
`phospholipids having hemostatic properties and found especially in the
`white matter of the brain and spinal cord.
`ceph•a•li•za•tion (sWa-li-zdfshan) n. An evolutionary trend in
`the animal kingdom toward centralization of neural and sensory organs
`in the head or anterior region of the body.
`cephalo- or cephal- pref. Head: cephalothorax. [New Latin, from
`Greek kephalo-, from kephale, head. See ghebh-el- in Appendix I.]
`ceph sa • lo•chor•date (stf'D-1D-ktrfdat') n. Any of various prim-
`itive chordate animals of the subphylum Cephalochordata, such as the
`lancet, that lack a true vertebral column. ...14 adj. Of, relating to, or be-
`longing to the subphylum Cephalochordata. [From New Latin
`Cephalochorchita, subphylum name : CEPHALO- + ChordOta, chordate
`phylum; see CHORDATE.]
`ceph•a•loome•ter (sel'a-lomfi-tar) n. A device for measuring the
`head.
`ceph•a•lom•e•try (sif'D-16mrl-tre) n. Scientific measurement of
`the head. —ceph'a•Io•metfric (46-mltfrik) adj.
`Ceph•a•lo•ni•a (stf'a-l6frit-a, -lontya) also Ke•fal•Ii•ni•a (W-
`fd-lt-nefg) The largest of the Ionian Islands off the western coast of
`Greece. It was held by the British from 1809 to 1864.
`ceph•a•lo•pod (Offs-la-pod') n. Any of various marine mollusks
`of the class Cephalopoda, such as the octopus, squid, cuttlefish, or nau-
`tilus, having a large head, large eyes, prehensile tentacles, and, in most
`species, an ink sac containing a dark fluid used for protection or defense.
`+ adj. Of, relating to, or belonging to the class Cephalopoda. [From New
`Latin Cephalopoda, class name : CEPHALO- + -poda, -pod.] —ceph'a•
`IOW o•d an (sef 'a-I:Op/a-6n) /7. & adj.
`ceph•a•lo•spo•rin (sel-D-la-sp6r 1In, -sporf-) is. Any of various
`broad-spectrum antibiotics, closely related to the penicillins, that were
`°riginally derived from the fungus Cephalosporium acremonium. [New
`
`Latin Cephalosporium, genus name (CEPHALO- + spora, spore; see SPORE)
`+ -IN.]
`n. A semisyrithetic analogue of
`ceph•a•lo•thin (selta-la-thIn)
`cephalosporin having a broad spectrum of antibiotic activity that is ad-
`ministered parenterally and used especially to treat systemic infections
`caused by susceptible microorganisms. [CEPHALO(SPORIN) + THI(0)- +
`
`ceph•a•lo•tho•rax (sef ,a -b -thdrrake, -thOrt -) n. The anterior
`section of arachnids and many crustaceans, consisting of the fused head
`and thorax.
`- cephalous suff. Having a specified kind of head or number of
`heads: dicephalous. [From Greek -kephalos, from kephale, head. See
`ghebh-el- in Appendix I.]
`- cephaly suff. A specified condition of the head: microcephaly.
`Ce•phe•id (sef t-rd, sefft-) n. Any of a class of intrinsically variable
`stars with exceptionally regular periods of light pulsation. [From CE-
`PHEUS.]
`Ce•pheus (strfytios', -ft-as, sifft-) n. A constellation in the North-
`ern Hemisphere near Cassiopeia and Draco. [Latin Cepheus, from Greek
`'Cepheus.]
`ce•ra•ceous (sa-rafshas) adj. Waxy or waxlike. [Latin cera, wax; see
`CERATE + -ACEOUS.]
`Ce•ralll (stfrgm', si-rENP) An island of eastern Indonesia in the
`Moluccas west of New Guinea. It borders on the Ceram Sea, a section
`of the western Pacific Ocean.
`ce•ram•al (sa-rgmlal) n. See cermet. [CERAM(tC) + AL(LOY).]
`ce•ram•ic (sa-ramrik) n. 1. Any of various hard, brittle, heat-resis-
`tant and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing a
`nonmetallic mineral, such as clay, at a high temperature. 2a. An object,
`such as earthenware, porcelain, or tile, made of ceramic. b. ceramics
`(used with a sing. verb) The art or technique of making objects of ceram-
`ic, especially from fired clay. [From Greek keramikos, of pottery, from
`kerarnos, potter's clay. See ker-3 in Appendix I.] ---ce•ramfic adj.
`ce•rambist (sa-rann'ist, Ails-mist) or ce•ram•i•cist (sa-farnri-sist)
`n. One who makes ceramic objects or artwork. [canAm(sc) + - 1ST.]
`ce•ras•tes (sa-rIsfttz) n., pl. cerastes Any of several venomous
`snakes of the genus Cerastes, such as the horned viper, having hornlike
`projections over each eye. [Middle English, from Latin cerastes, from
`Greek kerastes, horned serpent, from keras, horn. See ker-1 in Appendix
`I.]
`cerat- pref. Variant of kerato-.
`ce•rate (sirfati) n. A hard, unctuous, fat- or wax-based solid, some-
`times medicated, formerly applied to the skin directly or on dressings.
`[Latin ceraturn, from draws, past participle of cerclre, to cover with wax,
`from eel-a, wax; akin to Greek keros.)
`ce•rat•ed (sirta'tid) adj. 1. Coated with wax or resin. 2. Having a
`cere: a cerated beak. [From Latin ceratus. See CERATE.]
`cerato - pref. Variant of kerato-.
`ce•rat•o•dus (sa-rgtfa-das) n., pl. -dus•es 1. Any of various ex-
`tinct lungfishes of the genus Ceratodus, of the Triassic and Cretaceous
`periods. 2. See barramunda. [New Latin Ceratodiis, genus name :
`Greek keras, keriit-, horn; see ker.- 1 in Appendix I + Greek odous, tooth;
`see dent- in Appendix I.]
`cer ea •toi d (sir/a-told') adj. Similar to a horn; hornlike.
`cer•a•top•si •an (stea-ttpfst-an) n. Any of various herbivorous
`quadrupedal ornithischian dinosaurs of the suborder Ceratopsia of the
`late Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, having a bony frill covering the
`neck, a beaked mouth, and one or more horns on the head. [From New
`Latin Ceratopsia, suborder name : Greek keras, kerat-, horn; see ker-' in
`Appendix I + Greek Ops, eye, face; see okw- in Appendix I.] —cer'a•
`toptsi•an adj.
`Cer•ber•us (sqr/bar-as) n. Greek & Roman Mythology A three-
`headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades. —Cer'ber•etan (sOrlaa-
`rifan) adj.
`cer•car•I•a (sar-kirft-a) rt., pl. -i•ae (-8-8 , ) or -i•as The parasitic
`larva of a trematode worm, having a tail that disappears in the adult
`stage. [New Latin : Greek kerkos, tail + -aria, feminine of Latin -arius,
`-ary.] —cer•ca i •a I adj.
`kirtke) Either of a
`cer•cus (sarikas, ktrf-) n., pl. cer•ci (cid:9)
`pair of terminal, dorsolateral sensory appendages of certain insects, such
`as the female mosquito. [New Latin, from Greek kerkos, tail.]
`cere' (sir) tr.v. cered, cer•ing, ceres To wrap in or as if in cerecloth.
`[Middle English ceren, ciren, from Old French cirer, to cover with wax,
`from Latin cerare. See CERATE.]
`cere2 (sir) n. A fleshy or wa,dike membrane at the base of the upper
`beak in certain birds, such as parrots, through which the nostrils open.
`[Middle English sere, from Old French cire, from Medieval Latin am,
`from Latin, wax. See CERATE.] —cered adj.
`ce•re•al (sir/E-al) n. 1a. A grass such as wheat, oats, or corn, the
`starchy grains of which are used as food. b. The grain of such a grass. 2.
`Any of several other plants or their edible seed or fruit, such as buck-
`wheat or grain amaranth. 3. A food prepared from any of these plants,
`especially a breakfast food made from commercially processed grain.
`+ adj. Consisting of or relating to grain or to a plant producing grain.
`[From Latin cereolis, of grain, from Ceres, Ceres. See ker-2 in Appendix
`I.]
`cereal leaf beetle n. An Old World beetle (Oulema melanopus)
`now found in the United States, where it is a serious pest of grain crops
`as a result of its consumption of cereal grasses.
`cer•e•bel•lum (stea-bilfam) n., pl. -bel•lums or -bel•la (-bella)
`The trilobed structure of the brain, lying posterior to the pons and me-
`
`cere 2
`
`- -
`cereal leaf beetle
`cereal leaf beetle larva on a
`damaged wheat leaf
`
`.1 pat (cid:9)
`or boy
`OU out
`a pay
`6-6 took.
`lr care
`a fathcr clo boot
`ii cut
`e pe
`fir urge
`e'
`th thin
`th this
`Ow
`7,11 vision (cid:9)
`•
`a about, item
`• regionalism
`
`ir pier (cid:9)
`hpbt
`tee
`6 paw (cid:9)
`
`Stress marks: r (primary
`' (secondary), as in
`dictionary (dik'sha-ner
`
`303
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`000003
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`(cid:9)
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`

`
`matrilocal I maturity
`
`materi•lo•cal (Mattra-lOrkal) adj. Anthropology Of or relating to
`residence with a wife's kin group or clan. -matfri • lo•calf i•ty
`-rnat'ri•lorcal•ly adv.
`frat•ri•mo•ny (matfra-mO'n6) n., pl. -nies The act or state of
`being married; marriage. [Middle English, from Old French matrimoine,
`from Latin matrimOnium, from mater, matr-, mother. See miter- in Ap-
`endix I.] -mat'ri•roolni•al adj. -mat'ri•morni•al•ly adv.
`P nlatrimony vine n. Any of various often thorny shrubs of the
`genus Lycium, some species of which are cultivated for their purplish
`flowers and brightly colored berries. Also called boxthorn.
`mastrix (rodftriks) n., pl. martri•ces (mattri-sfe, matfri- ) or ma•
`trix•es 1. A situation or surrounding substance within which some-
`thing else originates, develops, or is contained: "Freedom of expression is
`the matrix, the indispensable condition, of nearly every form of freedom"
`(Benjamin N. Cardozo). 2. The womb. 3. Anatomy a. The formative
`cells or tissue of a fingernail, toenail, or tooth. b. See ground sub-
`stance (sense 1). 4. Geology a. The solid matter in which a fossil or
`crystal is embedded. b. Groundmass. 5. A mold or die. 6. The principal
`metal in an alloy, as the iron in steel. 7. A binding substance, as cement
`in concrete. 8a. Mathematics A rectangular array of numeric or algebraic
`quantities subject to mathematical operations. b. Something resembling
`such an array, as in the regular formation of elements into columns and
`rows. 9. Computer. Science The network of intersections between input
`and output leads in a computer, functioning as an encoder or a decoder.
`10. Printing a. A mold used in stereotyping and designed to receive pos-
`itive impressions of type or illustrations from which metal plates can be
`cast. Also called mat. b. A metal plate used for casting typefaces. 11. An
`electroplated impression of a phonograph record used to make duplicate
`records. [Middle English matrice, from Old French, from Late Latin
`matrix, matric-, from Latin, breeding-animal, from mater, matr-, moth-
`er. See mater- in Appendix I.]
`matro- pref. Variant of matri-.
`ma•tron (mottran) n. 1. A married woman or a widow, especially a
`mother of dignity, mature age, and established social position. 2. A
`woman who acts as a supervisor or monitor in a public institution, such
`as a school, hospital, or prison. [Middle English matrone, from Old
`French, from Latin mltriina, from meiter, matr-, mother. See m5ter- in
`Appendix I.] -maftron•al adj. -maftron•Ii•ness n. -martron•
`ly adv. ec adj.
`matron of honor n., pl. matrons of honor A married woman
`serving as chief attendant of the bride at a wedding.
`mat•ro•nym•ic (matira-nimrik) also me•tro•nym•ic (mnra-,
`mat'ra-) adj. Of, relating to, or derived from the name of one's mother
`or maternal ancestor. + n. A name so derived. [Greek matrInumikos,
`dialectal variant of metrInumikos : attar, matr-, mother; see METRO- +
`onurna, name; see n6-men- in Appendix I.]
`Mat.su (mat/so-of) An island in the East China Sea off the southeast
`coast of mainland China. It remained a Nationalist stronghold after the
`Communist revolution of 1949 and is now administered by Taiwan.
`Ma•tsu•do (ma -tscIordo) A city of east-central Honshu, Japan, a
`suburb of Tokyo. Population: 463,517.
`Ma rtsu•ya.fllla (ma'tsdb-yalma) A city of western Shikoku, Japan,
`on the Inland Sea. A port and distribution center, it was an important
`fortress town during the feudal period. Population: 454,374.
`Matt. abbr. Bible Matthew
`Mat•tag•a•mi (ma-tOgra-m6) A river, about 443 km (275 mi) long,
`of eastern Ontario, Canada, rising in Mattagami Lake and flowing
`north to the Moose River.
`Mat•ta•po•ni (matra-pa-nit) A river, about 201 km (125 mi) long,
`of eastern Virginia flowing southeast to the York River.
`matte' (mat) n. Variant of mat2 (sense 2). 4. adj. Variant of mat'.
`matte2 (mat) n. A mixture of a metal with its sulfides, produced by
`smelting the sulfide ores of copper, lead, or nickel. [French, curdled milk,
`matte, from feminine of obsolete mat, compact, from Old French, dull,
`from Latin mattus, stupefied. See MAT2.]
`rnat•ted (matrid) adj. 1. Covered with or made from mats: a matted
`floor. 2. Tangled in a dense mass: tried to push through the matted under-
`growth.
`mat•ter (mattar) n. la. Something that occupies space and can be
`perceived by one or more senses; a physical body, a physical substance,
`or the universe as a whole. b. Physics Something that has mass and exists
`as a solid, liquid, gas, or plasma. 2. A specific type of substance: inorganic
`matter. 3. Discharge or waste, such as pus or feces, from a living organ-
`ism. 4. Philosophy In Aristotelian and Scholastic use, that which is in
`itself undifferentiated and formless and which, as the subject of change
`and development, receives form and becomes substance. 5. The sub-
`stance of thought or expression as opposed to the manner in which it is
`stated or conveyed. 6. A subject of concern, feeling, or action: matters of
`foreign policy; a personal matter. See synonyms at subject. 7. Trouble or
`difficulty: What's the matter with your car? 8. An approximated quantity,
`amount, or extent: The construction will last a matter of years. 9. Some-
`thing printed or otherwise set down in writing: reading matter. 10.
`Something sent by mail. 11. Printing a. Composed type. b. Material to
`be set in type. + intr.v. -tered, -ter•ing, -ters To be of importance:
`"Love is most nearly itself/When here and now cease to matter" (T.S. Eliot).
`See synonyms at count'. -idioms: as a matter of fact In fact; ac-
`tually. for that matter So far as that is concerned; as for that, no
`matter Regardless of: "Yet there isn't a train I wouldn't take,/No matter
`where it's going" (Edna St. Vincent Millay). [Middle English, from Old
`French maere, from Latin materia, wood, timber, matter, from ma-ter,
`mother (because the woody part was seen as the source of growth). See
`mater- in Appendix I.]
`
`Mat•ter•horn (mat/or-horn', martar-) A mountain, 4,481.1 m
`(14,692 ft) high, in the Pennine Alps on the Italian-Swiss border. It was
`first scaled in 1865.
`matter of course n. A natural or logical outcome.
`mat•tervof-fact (matfar-Dv-faktf) adj. 1. Relating or adhering to
`facts; literal. 2. Straightforward or unemotional: 'the matter-of-fact
`tones in which the local guides describe the history of the various places"
`(New York Times). -matfter-of-factrly adv. -matfter-of-factf-
`ness n.
`Mat•thew (mathly6o) n. Abbr. Matt. or Mt See table at Bible. [Late
`Latin Matthaeus, from Greek Matthaios, from Hebrew Mattayyah, gift of
`Yahweh : mattan, gift (from nitan, to give; see ntn in Appendix II) +
`yah, Yahweh; see hwy in Appendix II.]
`Matthew, Saint. First century A.D. One of the 12 Apostles and the
`traditionally accepted author of the first Gospel of the New Testament.
`mat•ting1 (matting) n. la. Material formed into or considered as a
`mat: The forest floor had a thick matting of pine needles. b. A coarsely
`woven fabric used for covering floors and similar purposes. 2. The ac-
`tivity of making mats.
`mat•ting 2 (mat/Ing) n. 1. A dull surface or finish. 2. The process of
`dulling a surface, as of metal.
`mat•tins (mattnz) n. (used with a sing. or pL verb) Chiefly British
`Variant of matins.
`mat•tock (mattak) rt. A digging tool with a flat blade set at right
`angles to the handle. [Middle English, from Old English mattuc, perhaps
`from Vulgar Latin *inatteaca, club; akin to *mattea. See mAcE'.]
`mat•tress (matfrIs) n. la. A usually rectangular pad of heavy cloth
`filled with soft material or an arrangement of coiled springs, used as or
`on a bed. b. An airtight inflatable pad used as or on a bed or as a cushion.
`2. A closely woven mat of brush and poles used to protect an embank-
`ment, a dike, or a dam from erosion. [Middle English mattresse, from
`Old French materas, from Old Italian materasso and from Medieval Latin
`matracium, both from Arabic matrah, place where something is thrown,
`mat, cushion, from taraba, to throw. See till in Appendix II.]
`
`Word History The history of the word mattress is a small lesson in the
`way amenities have come to Europe from the Middle East. During the
`earlier part of the Middle Ages, Arabic culture was more advanced than
`that of Europe. One of the amenities of life enjoyed by the Arabs was
`sleeping on cushions thrown on the floor. Derived from the Arabic word
`tara/ta, "to throwr the word matralt meant "place where something is
`thrown" and "mat, cushion." This kind of sleeping surface was adopted
`by the Europeans during the Crusades, and the Arabic word was taken
`into Old Italian (rnaterasso) and then into Old French (materas), from
`which comes the Middle English word rnateras, first recorded in a work
`written around 1300. The Arabic word also became Medieval Latin
`matracium, another source of our word.
`mat•u•rate (machta-rat , ) v. -ra•ted, -rat•ing, -rates -intr. 1.
`To mature, ripen, or develop. 2. To suppurate. -tr. To cause to suppu-
`rate. [Latin matarcire, mItOrat-, from matfcrus, mature. See MATURE.]
`-matfu•ra'tive adj.
`mat•u•ra•tion (Mach's-rarshan) n. 1. The process of becoming
`mature. 2. Biology a. The processes by which gametes are formed, in-
`cluding the reduction of chromosomes in a germ cell from the diploid
`number to the haploid number by meiosis. b. 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.
`-mat'u•ra/tion•al adj.
`maturation division n. Either of the two successive cell divisions
`of meiosis, with only one duplication of the chromosomes, that results
`in the formation of haploid gametes.
`ma•ture (ma-tribe, -tcrort, -cherorf) adj. -tur•er, -tur•est la.
`Having reached full natural growth or development: a mature cell. b.
`Having reached a desired or final condition; ripe: a mature cheese. 2. Of,
`relating to, or characteristic of full development, either mental or physi-
`cal: mature for her age. 3a. Suitable or intended for adults: mature subject
`matter. b. Composed of adults: a mature audience. 4. Worked out fully
`by the mind; considered: a mature plan of action. 5. Having reached the
`limit of its time; due: a mature bond. 6. No longer subject to great ex-
`pansion or development. Used of an industry, a market, or a product. 7.
`Geology Having reached maximum development of form. Used of
`streams and landforms. + v. -tured, -tur•ing, -tures -tr. 1. To bring
`to full development; ripen. 2. To work out fully in the mind: "able to
`digest and mature my thoughts for my own mind only" (John Stuart Mill).
`-intr. 1. To evolve toward or reach full development: The child's judg-
`ment matures as she grows older. 2. To become due. Used of notes and
`bonds. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin matarus. See ma-1
`in Appendix I.] -ma•turerly adv. -ma•ture/ness n.
`Synonyms mature, age, develop, ripen These verbs mean to bring or
`come to full development or maximum excellence: maturing the wines in
`vats; aged the brandy for 100 years; developed the flavor slowly; fruits that
`were ripened on the vine.
`
`ma•ture-on•set diabetes (1=4yd-or/on/set', (cid:9)
`-chclort-) n. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
`Ma•tu•rin (maita-rtnt, -uTo-) A city of northeast Venezuela east-
`southeast of Caracas. It was founded in 1710 by Capuchin missionaries.
`Population: 207,382.
`-cho-ort-) n., pl. -ties la. The
`ma•tur•i•ty (ms-tyo-orri-ta, (cid:9)
`state or quality of being fully grown or developed. b. The state or quality
`of being mature. 2a. The time at which a note or bond is due. b. The
`
`-to-orr-,
`
`Matterhorn
`
`mattock
`
`ai boy
`pat (cid:9)
`Pay (cid:9)
`ou Out
`66 took
`• ar care (cid:9)
`a father Clo boot
`Strut
`e pet (cid:9)
`Or urge
`S be (cid:9)
`1 pit (cid:9)
`th thin
`th this
`• i pie (cid:9)
`hw which
`ir pier (cid:9)
`6 pot (cid:9)
`rh vision
`D about, item
`6 toe (cid:9)
`6 paw (cid:9)
`• rrgionalim
`
`Stress marks: (primary);
`' (secondary), as in
`dictionary (clikrshD-riar
`
`1081
`
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