a|dult´ness

a|dult «uh DUHLT, AD uhlt; see note below», adjective, noun.

–adj.

1. having full size and strength; full-grown; fully developed; grown-up: »

an adult person, an adult animal or plant.

SYNONYM(S): mature.

2. of, for, or by grown-up people: »

adult books, adult behavior.

–n.

1. a) a person who has reached full growth and development; grown-up person: »

Try to behave like an adult. Children want and need adults to set the reasonable limits of their innovating, exploring, and rebelling (Saturday Review).

b) a person who has reached an age of maturity as defined by law, usually the age of 18, sometimes the age of 21: »

Adults must accept full responsibility for their actions.

2. a plant or animal grown to full size and strength.

╂[< Latin adultus, past participle of adolēscere < ad- to + alēscere grow up. See etym. at adolescent. (Cf. ↑adolescent)]

–a|dult´ly, adverb.

–a|dult´ness, noun.

Usage Adult is pronounced uh DUHLT or AD uhlt, the choice depending often on the placement of the stress in the following word: »

a dult´ i de´ as,

but »

ad´ult no´tions.