maturative
maturative — noun
1. a medicine or substance that was used in earlier times to encourage pus to form
a medicine or substance that was used in earlier times to encourage pus to form inside a wound or sore, because people once believed that the formation of pus helped the body to heal
In medieval Europe, doctors often applied a maturative to slow-healing wounds.
collocation: apply + maturative + to [wound]
Dahlia found an old text describing a maturative made from rancid butter and crushed roots.
maturative + made from [ingredients]
The use of maturatives gradually stopped once doctors understood the bacterial causes of infection.
Apinya read that a maturative was sometimes mixed with honey to soothe the skin.
- suppurative
can be a noun meaning the same thing, but more often used as an adjective
- poultice
a broader term for any soft moist mass applied to the skin, not always intended to produce pus
文法句型
maturative + verb
apply + maturative
use + maturative
用法筆記
Now a historical term; modern medicine does not recommend producing pus. Found mainly in historical or medical-archaeology writing.
常見錯誤
maturative — adjective
- maturativepositive
- more maturativecomparative
- most maturativesuperlative
1. describing a substance, treatment, or quality that causes or helps pus to develo
describing a substance, treatment, or quality that causes or helps pus to develop in an infected part of the body
The old recipe listed several maturative herbs believed to draw poison from a snake bite.
maturative + noun [herb] in attributive position
Ancient Egyptian physicians used a maturative poultice of figs and flour on leg ulcers.
Caio studied the maturative properties of certain tree resins in traditional Amazonian medicine.
A maturative dressing was left on the wound to bring the infection to a head.
- suppurative
interchangeable in historical medical writing; both describe pus-promoting substances
- pus-drawing
an everyday English equivalent, used in folk medicine contexts
文法句型
maturative + noun
用法筆記
Today this meaning survives almost exclusively in historical or ethnographic descriptions of traditional medicine. Do not use it to describe modern wound care.
常見錯誤
2. helping something become fully developed, ripe, or mature — used for fruit and c
helping something become fully developed, ripe, or mature — used for fruit and crops as well as for abstract qualities such as skills, judgment, or character
The warm autumn sun had a maturative effect on the last apples on the branches.
maturative effect + on [fruit]
Nadia believes that difficult experiences have a maturative influence on a young person's character.
The painter described her years in Kyoto as a maturative period that enriched her work.
Astrid noticed a maturative change in the way her son handled disappointment after the trip.
- ripening
concrete and everyday, used mostly for fruit and crops, not for abstract development
- formative
common for personal or artistic development; suggests shaping rather than simply maturing
- developmental
broader, used in psychology, biology, and education
文法句型
maturative + noun
用法筆記
Of the three adjective senses, this one is the most likely to appear outside specialist medical writing, though still very formal. In everyday English, 'ripening' (for fruit) or 'developmental' / 'formative' (for personal growth) are far more common.
常見錯誤
3. relating to the process by which germ cells (eggs and sperm) develop through sta
relating to the process by which germ cells (eggs and sperm) develop through stages of division and specialisation until they are ready for fertilisation
The research team tracked maturative changes in frog eggs during the first week after spawning.
maturative + noun [change] in biological context
A defect in the maturative process of sperm cells can lead to male infertility.
The textbook describes a key maturative stage when germ cells begin to divide by meiosis.
Min studies maturative signals that tell egg cells when to begin the final growth phase.
- maturational
the preferred term in modern cell biology; 'maturative' is an older variant
- meiotic
more specific — refers to the type of cell division (meiosis) that produces germ cells
文法句型
maturative + noun
用法筆記
Restricted to specialised biology and reproductive medicine texts. The more common alternatives are 'maturational' or 'meiotic' (for cell-division stages).