ripe
adjective riper, ripest
- fully grown or developed; specif., ready to be harvested and used for food, as grain or fruit
- like ripe fruit, as in being ruddy and full: ripe lips
- sufficiently advanced, as by being kept in storage or subjected to treatment, to be ready for use: ripe wine, ripe cheese
- fully or highly developed by study, experience, etc.; mature as in judgment, knowledge, etc.: ripe wisdom
- characterized by full physical or mental development: a person of ripe years
- advanced in years: the ripe age of ninety
- ready to do, receive, or undergo something; fully prepared: ripe for marriage
- ready for some operation, treatment, or process: a boil ripe for lancing
- sufficiently advanced; far enough along (for some purpose): said of time
- having a strong, unpleasant smell
See ripe in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(rīp)
adjective rip·er,
rip·est - Fully developed; mature: ripe peaches.
- Resembling matured fruit, as in fullness.
- Sufficiently advanced in preparation or aging to be used or eaten: ripe cheese.
- Thoroughly matured, as by study or experience; seasoned: ripe judgment.
- Advanced in years: the ripe age of 90.
- Fully prepared to do or undergo something; ready: “By 1965 the republic was ripe for a coup” (Alex Shoumatoff).
- Sufficiently advanced; opportune: The time is ripe for great societal changes.
- Exhibiting overtones of or references to sex; scatological: “The language on the stage was riper than anything I have heard in a lifetime of newspaper work” (John Hughes).
- Emitting a foul odor, especially body odor.
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