older

[ohl-der] /ˈoʊl dər/
adjective
1.
a comparative of old.
Can be confused
elder, older (see synonym study at the current entry)
Synonyms
Older, elder imply having greater age than something or someone else. Older is the usual form of the comparative of old: This building is older than that one. Elder, now greatly restricted in application, is used chiefly to indicate seniority in age as between any two people but especially priority of birth as between children born of the same parents: The elder brother became king.
Antonyms
newer, younger.

old

[ohld] /oʊld/
adjective, older, oldest or elder, eldest.
1.
far advanced in the years of one's or its life:
an old man; an old horse; an old tree.
2.
of or pertaining to the latter part of the life or term of existence of a person or thing:
old age.
3.
as if or appearing to be far advanced in years:
Worry had made him old.
4.
having lived or existed for a specified time:
a man 30 years old; a century-old organization.
5.
having lived or existed as specified with relation to younger or newer persons or things:
Jim is our oldest boy.
6.
having been aged for a specified time:
This whiskey is eight years old.
7.
having been aged for a comparatively long time:
old brandy.
8.
long known or in use:
the same old excuse.
9.
overfamiliar to the point of tedium:
Some jokes get old fast.
10.
belonging to the past:
the good old days.
11.
having been in existence since the distant past:
a fine old family.
12.
no longer in general use:
This typewriter is an old model.
13.
acquired, made, or in use by one prior to the acquisition, making, or use of something more recent:
When the new house was built, we sold the old one.
14.
of, pertaining to, or originating at an earlier period or date:
old maps.
15.
prehistoric; ancient:
There may have been an old land bridge between Asia and Alaska.
16.
(initial capital letter) (of a language) in its oldest known period, as attested by the earliest written records:
Old Czech.
17.
experienced:
He's an old hand at welding.
18.
of long standing; having been such for a comparatively long time:
an old and trusted employee.
19.
(of colors) dull, faded, or subdued:
old rose.
20.
deteriorated through age or long use; worn, decayed, or dilapidated:
old clothes.
21.
Physical Geography. (of landforms) far advanced in reduction by erosion or the like.
22.
sedate, sensible, mature, or wise:
That child seems old beyond his years.
23.
(used to indicate affection, familiarity, disparagement, or a personalization):
good old Bob; that dirty old jalopy.
24.
Informal. (used as an intensive) great; uncommon:
a high old time.
25.
former; having been so formerly:
a dinner for his old students.
noun
26.
(used with a plural verb) old persons collectively (usually preceded by the):
appropriations to care for the old.
27.
a person or animal of a specified age or age group (used in combination):
a class for six-year-olds; a horse race for three-year-olds.
28.
old or former time, often time long past:
days of old.
Origin
before 900; Middle English; Old English eald, ald; cognate with Dutch old, German alt, Gothic altheis; akin to Old Norse ala to nourish
Related forms
oldness, noun
Synonyms
1. Old, aged, elderly all mean well along in years. An old person has lived long, nearly to the end of the usual period of life. An aged person is very far advanced in years, and is usually afflicted with the infirmities of age. An elderly person is somewhat old, but usually has the mellowness, satisfactions, and joys of age ahead. 9. olden, early.
Antonyms
1. young.
Examples from the web for older
  • older workers have lower rates of absenteeism and more experience than younger folk.
  • See the issues surrounding improving the health of older adults and senior citizens.
  • Look for wood from the previous season's growth, which is often lighter in color than older wood.
  • The older, longer vined types would probably look a lot messier without something to climb up.
  • Remove older, unproductive branches, cutting back to new branches.
  • After bloom is over, thin and neaten plants by cutting older, tattered stems to the ground.
  • These older strains are much more susceptible to diseases.
  • Loopers are somewhat difficult to detect since they feed mainly at night and hide in older vegetation during the day.
  • Still, the newest gasoline mowers offer an improvement over older types.
  • In my observation, younger guys grow beards to look older and more mature.
British Dictionary definitions for older

older

/ˈəʊldə/
adjective
1.
the comparative of old
2.
having lived or existed longer; of greater age Also (of people, esp members of the same family) elder

old

/əʊld/
adjective
1.
having lived or existed for a relatively long time: an old man, an old tradition, old wine, an old house, an old country
2.
  1. of or relating to advanced years or a long life: old age
  2. (as collective noun; preceded by the): the old
  3. old and young, people of all ages
3.
decrepit or senile
4.
worn with age or use: old clothes, an old car
5.
  1. (postpositive) having lived or existed for a specified period: a child who is six years old
  2. (in combination): a six-year-old child
  3. (as noun in combination): a six-year-old
6.
(capital when part of a name or title) earlier or earliest of two or more things with the same name: the old edition, the Old Testament, old Norwich
7.
(capital when part of a name) designating the form of a language in which the earliest known records are written: Old English
8.
(prenominal) familiar through long acquaintance or repetition: an old friend, an old excuse
9.
practised; hardened: old in cunning
10.
(prenominal) often preceded by good. cherished; dear: used as a term of affection or familiarity: good old George
11.
(informal) (with any of several nouns) used as a familiar form of address to a person: old thing, old bean, old stick, old fellow
12.
skilled through long experience (esp in the phrase an old hand)
13.
out-of-date; unfashionable
14.
remote or distant in origin or time of origin: an old culture
15.
(prenominal) former; previous: my old house was small
16.
  1. (prenominal) established for a relatively long time: an old member
  2. (in combination): old-established
17.
sensible, wise, or mature: old beyond one's years
18.
(of a river, valley, or land surface) in the final stage of the cycle of erosion, characterized by flat extensive flood plains and minimum relief See also youthful (sense 4), mature (sense 6)
19.
(intensifier) (esp in phrases such as a good old time, any old thing, any old how, etc)
20.
(of crops) harvested late
21.
good old days, an earlier period of time regarded as better than the present
22.
(informal) little old, indicating affection, esp humorous affection: my little old wife
23.
(informal) the old one, the old gentleman, a jocular name for Satan
noun
24.
an earlier or past time (esp in the phrase of old): in days of old
Derived Forms
oldish, adjective
oldness, noun
Usage note
Many people nowadays prefer to talk about older people rather than old people, and the phrase the old is best avoided altogether
Word Origin
Old English eald; related to Old Saxon ald, Old High German, German alt, Latin altus high
Word Origin and History for older

old

adj.

Old English ald (Anglian), eald (West Saxon) "aged, antique, primeval; elder, experienced," from West Germanic *althas "grown up, adult" (cf. Old Frisian ald, Gothic alþeis, Dutch oud, German alt), originally a past participle stem of a verb meaning "grow, nourish" (cf. Gothic alan "to grow up," Old Norse ala "to nourish"), from PIE root *al- "to grow, nourish" (cf. Greek aldaino "make grow, strengthen," althein, althainein "to get well;" Latin alere "to feed, nourish, bring up, increase," altus "high," literally "grown tall," almus "nurturing, nourishing," alumnus "fosterling, step-child;" Old Irish alim "I nourish").

The usual PIE root is *sen- (see senior (adj.)). A few Indo-European languages distinguish words for "old" (vs. young) from words for "old" (vs. new), and some have separate words for aged persons as opposed to old things. Latin senex was used of aged living things, mostly persons, while vetus (literally "having many years") was used of inanimate things. Greek geraios was used mostly of humans; Greek palaios was used mostly of things, of persons only in a derogatory sense. Greek also had arkhaios, literally "belonging to the beginning," which parallels French ancien, used mostly with reference to things "of former times."

Old English also had fyrn "ancient," related to Old English feor "far, distant" (see far, and cf. Gothic fairneis, Old Norse forn "old, of old, of former times," Old High German firni "old, experienced"). The original Old English vowel is preserved in Scots auld, also in alderman. The original comparative and superlative (elder, eldest) are retained in particular uses.

First record of old-timer is from 1860. Expression old as the hills first recorded 1819. The good old days dates from 1828. Of old "of old times" is from late 14c. Old Glory for "the American flag" is first attested 1862. Old maid "woman who remains single well beyond the usual marrying age" is from 1520s; the card game is attested by that name from 1844. Old man "man who has lived long" is from c.1200; sense of "husband, father, boss" is from 1854, earlier (1830) it was military slang for "commanding officer;" old lady "wife, mother" is attested from c.1775. Old English is attested from 1701, originally as a type of font. Old boy originally was a former pupil of one of the English public schools. Old Testament attested from mid-14c.

Slang definitions & phrases for older

old

adjective

Good; dear; well-liked: What's old Donald up to now? (1598+)

Related Terms

any old


Idioms and Phrases with older

old

also see: