Synonym Study

• Adult is applied to a person who has reached complete physical or mental maturity, or legal majority, and to ideas, behavior, etc. that show mature thinking
• Mellow suggests the qualities typical of ripe fruit, such as softness, sweetness, etc. and therefore stresses the absence of sharpness, harshness, etc. a mellow flavor, a mellow mood
• Mature implies full growth or development, as of living organisms or the mind a mature tree, mature judgment
• Ripe , in its basic application, implies readiness to be harvested, eaten, used, etc. ripe apples, a ripe cheese and, in extended use, full readiness to do or undergo something ripe for change