premature Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective born after a gestation period of less than the normal time
    • a premature infant
  2. adjective satellite too soon or too hasty
    previous.
    • our condemnation of him was a bit previous
    • a premature judgment
  3. adjective satellite uncommonly early or before the expected time
    untimely.
    • illness led to his premature death
    • alcohol brought him to an untimely end

WordNet

Pre`ma*ture" adjective
Etymology
L. praematurus; prae before + maturus ripe. See Mature.
Definitions
  1. Mature or ripe before the proper time; as, the premature fruits of a hotbed.
  2. Happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper or usual time; adopted too soon; too early; untimely; as, a premature fall of snow; a premature birth; a premature opinion; premature decay.
  3. Arriving or received without due authentication or evidence; as, a premature report. -- Pre`ma*ture"ly, adv. -- Pre`ma*ture"ness, n.

Webster 1913