premature
/ˈprɛmətʃə
/ /ˈprɛmətjʊə /adjective
1Occurring or done before the usual or proper time; too early: the sun can cause premature ageing [with infinitive]: it would be premature to draw any firm conclusions at this stage...
- To discard potential new directions for research at this early stage would be premature.
- Free radicals are thought to be responsible for helping to cause premature ageing, heart disease and cancer.
- Apart from the associations with premature ageing, darker hair suits my Anglo-Asian olive skin.
Synonyms
untimely, early, too soon, too early, before time
archaic unseasonable
rash, overhasty, hasty, too soon, precipitate, precipitous, impulsive, impetuous, ill-timed, ill-considered
informal jumping the gun, previous
1.1(Of a baby) born before the end of the full term of gestation, especially three or more weeks before: the child was three weeks premature...
- SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) can happen to any baby, but premature babies and low birth-weight babies are more at risk.
- His observations led to the careful control of oxygen delivery to premature babies.
- Some premature babies suffer from breathing difficulties but this did not appear to be the case with Jennifer.
Synonyms
preterm
informal prem
North American informal preemie
Derivatives
prematurity
- Second-hand smoke also affects babies, before and after birth, and can lead to prematurity, respiratory illnesses, nervous disorders and hearing impairments.
- Amazingly, the fat content in my breast milk would be higher to compensate for my baby's prematurity.
- The respiratory difficulties the baby has can be expected with such prematurity.
prematureness
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'ripe, mature'): from Latin praematurus 'very early', from prae 'before' + maturus 'ripe'.