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adult

 - 7 dictionary results

a⋅dult

[uh-duhlt, ad-uhlt]
–adjective
1. having attained full size and strength; grown up; mature: an adult person, animal, or plant.
2. of, pertaining to, or befitting adults.
3. intended for adults; not suitable for children: adult entertainment.
–noun
4. a person who is fully grown or developed or of age.
5. a full-grown animal or plant.
6. a person who has attained the age of maturity as specified by law.

Origin:
1525–35; 1925–30 for def. 3; < L adultus grown (ptp. of adolēre to make grow), equiv. to ad- ad- + ul- (identical with base al- in aliment, ol- in prolific ) + -tus ptp. suffix


a⋅dult⋅hood, noun
a⋅dult⋅like, adjective
a⋅dult⋅ly, adverb
a⋅dult⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To adult
a·dult   (ə-dŭlt', ād'ŭlt)   
n.  
  1. One who has attained maturity or legal age.

  2. Biology A fully grown, mature organism.

adj.  
  1. Fully developed and mature.

  2. Relating to, intended for, or befitting adults: adult education.

  3. Containing or dealing in explicitly sexual material; pornographic: adult movies; adult bookstores.


[From Latin adultus, past participle of adolēscere, to grow up; see adolescent.]
a·dult'hood' n., a·dult'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

adult  (adj.)
1531 (but not common until mid-17c.), from L. adultus, pp. of adolescere "grow up, mature" (see adolescent). As a euphemism for "pornographic," it dates to 1958 and does no honor to the word. The noun meaning "adult person" is from 1658.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: adult
Function: noun
: a person who has reached an age specified by law —compare CHILD, INFANT, MINOR
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1adult
Pronunciation: &-'d<, 'ad-"<
Function: adjective
: fully developed and mature

Main Entry: 2adult
Function: noun
1 : one that has arrived at full development or maturity especially in size, strength, or intellectual capacity
2 : a human male or female after a specific age (as 18 or 21)
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

adult a·dult (ə-dŭlt', ād'ŭlt)
n.

  1. One who has attained maturity or legal age.

  2. A fully grown, mature organism.

adj.
Fully developed and mature.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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