mellow

[mel-oh] /ˈmɛl oʊ/
adjective, mellower, mellowest.
1.
soft, sweet, and full-flavored from ripeness, as fruit.
2.
well-matured, as wines.
3.
soft and rich, as sound, tones, color, or light.
4.
made gentle and compassionate by age or maturity; softened.
5.
friable or loamy, as soil.
6.
mildly and pleasantly intoxicated or high.
7.
pleasantly agreeable; free from tension, discord, etc.:
a mellow neighborhood.
8.
affably relaxed; easygoing; genial:
a mellow teacher who is very popular with her students.
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
9.
to make or become mellow.
noun
10.
Slang. a state, atmosphere, or mood of ease and gentle relaxation.
Verb phrases
11.
mellow out, Slang.
  1. to become detached from worry, strife, stress, etc.; relax:
    After final exams let's go down to the beach and mellow out.
  2. to make more relaxed, agreeable, workable, etc.; soften or smooth:
    Chopin really mellows me out when I'm feeling tense.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English mel(o)we, alteration (perhaps by dissimilation, in phrase meruw fruit) of Middle English meruw, Old English meru soft
Related forms
mellowly, adverb
mellowness, noun
overmellow, adjective
overmellowly, adverb
overmellowness, noun
unmellow, adjective
unmellowed, adjective
Synonyms
1. See ripe. 9. develop, mature, improve.
Antonyms
1. immature, raw, green. 3. harsh.
British Dictionary definitions for mellow out

mellow

/ˈmɛləʊ/
adjective
1.
(esp of fruits) full-flavoured; sweet; ripe
2.
(esp of wines) well-matured
3.
(esp of colours or sounds) soft or rich
4.
kind-hearted, esp through maturity or old age
5.
genial, as through the effects of alcohol
6.
(of soil) soft and loamy
verb
7.
to make or become mellow; soften; mature
8.
(foll by out) to become calm and relaxed or (esp of a drug) to have a calming or relaxing effect on (someone)
Derived Forms
mellowly, adverb
mellowness, noun
Word Origin
C15: perhaps from Old English meru soft (as through ripeness)
Word Origin and History for mellow out

mellow

adj.

mid-15c., melwe "soft, sweet, juicy" (of ripe fruit), perhaps related to melowe, variant of mele "ground grain" (see meal (2)), influenced by Middle English merow "soft, tender," from Old English mearu. Meaning "slightly drunk" is from 1680s. Mellow yellow "banana peel smoked in an effort to get high" is from 1967. Related: Mellowly; mellowness.

v.

1570s, from mellow (adj.). Related: Mellowed; mellowing.

Slang definitions & phrases for mellow out

mellow out

verb phrase

(also mellow) To become relaxed and easy: wondering why the family in ''The Grapes of Wrath'' didn't move to LA and mellow out/ Even the testiest groups and crews can be mellowed out after spending time at Alpine (1970s+ Students)


mellow

adjective
  1. Slightly drunk; tiddly (1690+)
  2. Sincere and skillful •Said of a musical performance (1935+ Jazz musicians)
  3. Relaxed; at ease; laid-back (1950s+ Cool use)
  4. Very friendly; intimate (1950s+ Cool use)
noun

A close friend; buddy (1950s+ Cool use)

verb

mellow out (1980s+ Students)


Idioms and Phrases with mellow out

mellow out

Become genial or pleasant, calm down, relax, as in The teacher mellowed out when they explained what had happened. This expression uses mellow in the sense of “ripening,” with the connotation of softness and sweetness. [ ; late 1900s ]