Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (a.) Happening too soon; mature or ripe before the proper time; as, the premature fruits of a hotbed.

2. (a.) Happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper or usual time; adopted too soon; too early; untimely; as, a premature fall of snow; a premature birth; a premature opinion; premature decay.

3. (a.) Arriving or received without due authentication or evidence; as, a premature report.