old(ōld),USA pronunciationadj.,old•er, old•est or eld•er, eld•est,n. adj.
far advanced in the years of one's or its life:an old man;an old horse;an old tree.
of or pertaining to the latter part of the life or term of existence of a person or thing:old age.
as if or appearing to be far advanced in years:Worry had made him old.
having lived or existed for a specified time:a man 30 years old; a century-old organization.
having lived or existed as specified with relation to younger or newer persons or things:Jim is our oldest boy.
having been aged for a specified time:This whiskey is eight years old.
having been aged for a comparatively long time:old brandy.
long known or in use:the same old excuse.
overfamiliar to the point of tedium:That joke gets old fast.
belonging to the past:the good old days.
having been in existence since the distant past:a fine old family.
no longer in general use:This typewriter is an old model.
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.
of, pertaining to, or originating at an earlier period or date:old maps.
prehistoric; ancient:There may have been an old land bridge between Asia and Alaska.
Linguistics(cap.) (of a language) in its oldest known period, as attested by the earliest written records:Old Czech.
experienced:He's an old hand at welding.
of long standing; having been such for a comparatively long time:an old and trusted employee.
(of colors) dull, faded, or subdued:old rose.
deteriorated through age or long use; worn, decayed, or dilapidated:old clothes.
[Physical Geog.](of landforms) far advanced in reduction by erosion or the like.
sedate, sensible, mature, or wise:That child seems old beyond his years.
(used to indicate affection, familiarity, disparagement, or a personalization):good old Bob; that dirty old jalopy.
Informal Terms(used as an intensive) great; uncommon:a high old time.
former; having been so formerly:a dinner for his old students.
n.
(used with a pl. v.) old persons collectively (usually prec. by the):appropriations to care for the old.
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.
old or former time, often time long past:days of old.
bef. 900; Middle English; Old English eald, ald; cognate with Dutch old, German alt, Gothic altheis; akin to Old Norse ala to nourish
old′ness, n.
1.See corresponding entry in UnabridgedOld,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.See corresponding entry in Unabridged olden, early.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged young.
old, +adj.
overfamiliar to the point of tedium:Some jokes get old fast.
having lived or existed for a relatively long time: an old man, an old tradition, old wine, an old house, an old country
of or relating to advanced years or a long life: old age
(as collective noun; preceded by the): the old
old and young ⇒ people of all ages
decrepit or senile
worn with age or use: old clothes, an old car
(postpositive)having lived or existed for a specified period: a child who is six years old
(in combination): a six-year-old child
(as noun in combination): a six-year-old
(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
(capital when part of a name)designating the form of a language in which the earliest known records are written: Old English
(prenominal)familiar through long acquaintance or repetition: an old friend, an old excuse
practised; hardened: old in cunning
(prenominal) often preceded bygood: cherished; dear: used as a term of affection or familiarity: good old George
(with any of several nouns)used as a familiar form of address to a person: old thing, old bean, old stick, old fellow
skilled through long experience (esp in the phrase an old hand)
out-of-date; unfashionable
remote or distant in origin or time of origin: an old culture
(prenominal)former; previous: my old house was small
(prenominal)established for a relatively long time: an old member
(in combination): old-established
sensible, wise, or mature: old beyond one's years
(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 alsoyouthful4
(intensifier) (esp in phrases such as a good old time, any old thing, any old how, etc)
(of crops) harvested late
good old days ⇒ an earlier period of time regarded as better than the present
little old ⇒ indicating affection, esp humorous affection: my little old car
the old one, the old gentleman ⇒ a jocular name forSatan
an earlier or past time (esp in the phrase of old): in days of old
Etymology: Old English eald; related to Old Saxon ald, Old High German, German alt, Latin altus highˈoldishˈoldness
'old bag' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):