/raɪp; raɪp/
adj
1 (of fruit, grain, etc) ready to be gathered and used, esp for eating （指水果、谷物等）成熟的
*Are the apples ripe enough to eat yet? 这些苹果已经熟了吗?
* harvest the ripe corn 收割已成熟的谷物
* (fig 比喻) Her lips were ripe as cherries, ie full and red like ripe cherries. 她的嘴唇像樱桃一样红润.
2 (of cheese) fully matured or developed （指乾酪）已成熟的
*ripe cheese 成熟的乾酪
* (rare fig 罕, 比喻) ripe judgement, scholarship 成熟的判断力、丰富的学识.3 (of a person's age) advanced （指人）成年的, 上年纪的
*men of riper years 已成年的男子
* lived to a ripe old age 活到高龄
* (ironic 反语) at the ripe old age of
21 正值21岁高龄.
4 [pred 作表语] ~ (for sth) ready; fit; prepared 时机成熟; 适宜; 准备就绪
*land that is ripe for development 适合开发的土地
* a nation ripe for revolution 革命时机已成熟的国家.
5 (idm 习语) the time is ripe => time1.

adj comparativeripersuperlativeripest
[Language: Old English;]
ripe fruit or crops are fully grown and ready to eat
≠ unripe
　Those tomatoes aren't ripe yet.
be ripe for sth
to be ready for a change to happen, especially when it should have happened sooner
　The police forces are ripe for reform.
　The former dock area is ripe for development.
the time is ripe (for sth)
used to say it is a very suitable time for something to happen, especially when it should have happened sooner
　The time is ripe for a review of progress up to now.
ripe old age
a) if you live to a ripe old age, you are very old when you die
　Eat less and exercise more if you want to live to a ripe old age .
b) used to show that you find it surprising or impressive that someone is doing something or has achieved something at a very young age - used humorously
　She was put in charge at the ripe old age of twenty-nine.
ripe cheese has developed a strong taste and is ready to eat
= mature
especially BrE a ripe smell is strong and unpleasant - used humorously
　We were pretty ripe after a week of walking.
>ripenessn[U]