physical maturation

noun

UK /ˈfɪzɪkəl ˌmætʃʊˈreɪʃən/

US /ˈfɪzɪkəl ˌmætʃəˈreɪʃən/

The way your body grows and changes as you get older.

Physical maturation helps children grow taller and stronger each year.

SYNONYMS

bodily growth physical development physical growth body development physical ripening

RELATED WORDS

puberty growth spurt adolescence development maturity

OTHER MEANINGS

2. The process by which the body reaches full adult form and function.

Doctors track physical maturation to make sure a child is developing healthily.

3. The biological changes that happen during puberty.

Physical maturation during the teen years includes changes in height and voice.

4. The natural completion of the body's growth over time.

Good nutrition supports healthy physical maturation in young animals.

5. The stage when the body is fully grown and able to reproduce.

Physical maturation in many animals signals the start of adulthood.