ripe: Meaning and Definition of
ripe
Pronunciation: (rīp), [key]
— rip•er, rip•est.
- having arrived at such a stage of growth or development as to be ready for reaping, gathering, eating, or use, as grain or fruit; completely matured.
- resembling such fruit, as in ruddiness and fullness: ripe, red lips.
- advanced to the point of being in the best condition for use, as cheese or beer.
- fully grown or developed, as animals when ready to be killed and used for food.
- arrived at the highest or a high point of development or excellence; mature.
- of mature judgment or knowledge: ripe scholars; a ripe mind.
- characterized by full development of body or mind: of ripe years.
- (of time) advanced: a ripe old age.
- (of ideas, plans, etc.) ready for action, execution, etc.
- (of people) fully prepared or ready to do or undergo something: He was ripe for a change in jobs.
- fully or sufficiently advanced; ready enough; auspicious: The time is ripe for a new foreign policy.
- ready for some operation or process: a ripe abscess.
- drunk: reeling ripe.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.