preadult
1
7.2
- noun
- /ˌpriːˈædʌlt/
- Specialized
:
preadulto
- At this stage, most larvae are preadults measuring up to 18 mm long.
Examples
-
It is easier to obtain support for studies of drug use in high schools, future employment prospects of graduates, and so on, and it is somewhat controversial to study the political views of preadults.
Academic text (1995) -
Most preadults, like caterpillars, are highly active and continue to grow before transforming into their adult forms.
-
Some political learning occurred among preadults; indeed, civics and government courses in schools, along with the "practice" of democracy in school organizations, were intended precisely to foster such learning.
Academic text (1995) -
In many species, the preadult phase can last several weeks, during which the organism prepares for its next life stage.
-
Research on preadults often focuses on developmental milestones that occur before reaching adulthood.
Synonyms
1
7.1
An animal or person not fully grown but past the young stage
Antonyms
How Mature
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Preadult joins pre- ('before') and adult, so the word names a creature that is 'before' full adult life. As a noun, a preadult is an animal that is not yet fully grown, similar to how a preteen is 'before' being a teen.