adult
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈæd.ʌlt/
ipa: /ˈæd.əlt/
ipa: /əˈdʌlt/
ipa: /ˈæd.əlt/
ipa: [ˈadʌɫt]
ipa: [əˈdʌɫt]
ipa: [ˈadʊɫt]
ipa: [ˈad(ə)ɫt]
ipa: [aˈdʌɫt]
ipa: [əˈdʊɫt]
rhymes: -ʌlt
Forms: form: more adult
form: most adult
Etymology: From French adulte, from Latin adultus (“grown up”), perfect passive participle of adolescō (“I grow up”). Compare adolescent.
Senses: examples: text: an adult human, animal, or plant
text: The paws of the adult brown bear, and also their hams, especially when smoked, are considered a great delicacy.
ref: 1837, Michael Donovan, Domestic Economy: Human Food, Animal and Vegetable, page 86:
glosses: Fully grown.
examples: text: adult clothes; adult cereal; an adult documentary
text: In May 1967 the WGBH Education Division submitted an initial proposal to HUD for a series of four adult television documentaries on conservation in an urban environment.
ref: 1973, Marshall Kaplan, Gans, and Kahn, Children and the urban environment (page 21)
glosses: Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
examples: text: adult situations; adult discussions
glosses: Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
Containing situations or discussions intended primarily for adults, such as serious crime, illicit drug use, extramarital affairs, etc.
examples: text: an adult drink; an adult root beer float
glosses: Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
Containing alcohol, intended for consumption only by adults.
raw_tags: of a beverage
examples: text: an adult cookie; adult gummy worms
glosses: Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
Containing marijuana, intended for consumption only by adults.
qualifier: gummy
raw_tags: of a cookie
examples: text: an adult movie
text: This program contains adult content. Parental discretion is advised.
glosses: Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
Containing material of an explicit sexual nature; pornographic.
examples: text: adult language; an adult cartoon
glosses: Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
Containing excessive vulgar or profane speech, text or images, intended only for adults.
examples: text: an adult menu; an adult fare
text: Children go free, but for those 12 and up, you must purchase an adult ticket.
glosses: Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
Intended for, or restricted to, those who are not young children.
Synonyms: sense: fully grown
word: big
word: fully grown
word: grown up
word: full-grown
sense: intended for adults
word: grown up
word: adultlike
word: for adults
sense: containing explicit sexual material
word: pornographic
word: X-rated
word: XXX
word: XXXX
word: pornographic
word: blue
word: indecent
word: obscene
word: salacious
Derived terms: adult actress
adult album alternative
adult alternative
adult baby
adult beverage
adult bookstore
adultcentrism
adult contemporary
adult content
adult education
adultescent
adult film
adulticide
adultification
adultify
adultish
adultism
adultivity
adultization
adultize
adult learner
adultlike
adultly
adult movie
adultness
adultocentric
adultoid
adult-onset diabetes
adultophile
adult-oriented rock
adult protection
adult relations
adult respiratory distress syndrome
adultship
adult shop
adultspeak
adult star
adult survivor
adult third culture kid
adultwear
adulty
appropriate adult
consenting adult
Disney adult
emerging adult
hot adult contemporary
hyperadult
kidult
new adult
nonadult
older adult
preadult
pseudoadult
subadult
unadult
young adult
Related terms: adolescent
adulthood