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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

old

Audio Help [ohld] Pronunciation Key adjective, old·er, old·est or eld·er, eld·est, noun

–adjective

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 prec. 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: bef. 900; ME; OE eald, ald; c. D old, G alt, Goth altheis; akin to ON 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Old

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

old Audio Help (ōld) Pronunciation Key
adj. old·er, old·est

1. Having lived or existed for a relatively long time; far advanced in years or life.
2. Relatively advanced in age: Pamela is our oldest child.
3. Belonging to a remote or former period in history; ancient: old fossils.
4. Belonging to or being of an earlier time: her old classmates.
5. Having become slower in flow and less vigorous in action. Used of a river.
6. Having become simpler in form and of lower relief. Used of a landform.
7. Used as an intensive: Come back any old time. Don't give me any ol' excuse.
8. Used to express affection or familiarity: Good ol' Sam.
Made long ago; in existence for many years: an old book.
Of or relating to a long life or to people who have had long lives: a ripe old age.
Having or exhibiting the physical characteristics of age: a prematurely old face.
Having or exhibiting the wisdom of age; mature: a child who is old for his years.
Having lived or existed for a specified length of time: She was 12 years old.
1. Belonging to a remote or former period in history; ancient: old fossils.
2. Belonging to or being of an earlier time: her old classmates.
3. Having become slower in flow and less vigorous in action. Used of a river.
4. Having become simpler in form and of lower relief. Used of a landform.
5. Used as an intensive: Come back any old time. Don't give me any ol' excuse.
6. Used to express affection or familiarity: Good ol' Sam.
often Old Being the earlier or earliest of two or more related objects, stages, versions, or periods.
Geology
1. Having become slower in flow and less vigorous in action. Used of a river.
2. Having become simpler in form and of lower relief. Used of a landform.
3. Used as an intensive: Come back any old time. Don't give me any ol' excuse.
4. Used to express affection or familiarity: Good ol' Sam.
Exhibiting the effects of time or long use; worn: an old coat.
Known through long acquaintance; long familiar: an old friend.
Skilled or able through long experience; practiced.
often ol' (ōl)
1. Used as an intensive: Come back any old time. Don't give me any ol' excuse.
2. Used to express affection or familiarity: Good ol' Sam.

An individual of a specified age: a five-year-old.
Old people considered as a group. Used with the: caring for the old.
Former times; yore: in days of old.

[Middle English, from Old English eald; see al-² in Indo-European roots.]

old'ness n.

Synonyms: These adjectives describe what belongs to or dates from an earlier time or period. Old is the most general term: old lace; an old saying.
Ancient pertains to the distant past: "the hills,/Rock-ribbed, and ancient as the sun" (William Cullen Bryant).
Archaic implies a very remote, often primitive period: an archaic Greek bronze of the seventh century B.C.
Antediluvian applies to what is extremely outdated: "a branch of one of your antediluvian families" (William Congreve).
Antique is applied to what is especially appreciated or valued because of its age: antique furniture; an antique vase.
Antiquated describes what is out of date, no longer fashionable, or discredited: "No idea is so antiquated that it was not once modern. No idea is so modern that it will not someday be antiquated" (Ellen Glasgow).

Usage Note: Old is the bluntest of the adjectives most commonly used in referring to advanced or advancing age. It generally suggests at least a degree of age-related infirmity, and for that reason it is often avoided in formal or polite speech. Many prefer elderly as a more neutral and respectful term, but it too can suggest frailty, especially in reference to individuals as opposed to a group or population. And while senior enjoys wide usage as both a noun and adjective in many civic or social contexts, it is often considered unpleasantly euphemistic in a phrase such as the senior couple living next door. · As a comparative form, older would logically seem to indicate greater age than old. Except when a direct comparison is being made, however, the opposite is generally true. The older man in the tweed jacket suggests a somewhat younger or more vigorous man than if one substitutes old or elderly. Where old expresses an absolute, an arrival at old age, older takes a more relative view of aging as a continuum—older, but not yet old. As such, older is more than just a euphemism for the blunter old, offering as it does a more precise term for someone between middle and advanced age. And unlike elderly, older does not particularly suggest frailness or infirmity, making it the natural choice in many situations. See Usage Note at elder¹.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
old

O.E. ald (Anglian), eald (W.Saxon), from W.Gmc. *althas "grown up, adult" (cf. O.Fris. ald, Goth. alþeis, Du. oud, Ger. alt), originally a pp. stem of a verb meaning "grow, nourish" (cf. Goth. alan "to grow up," O.N. ala "to nourish"), from PIE base *al- "to grow, nourish" (cf. Gk. aldaino "make grow, strengthen," althein, althainein "to get well;" L. alere "to feed, nourish, bring up, increase," altus "high," lit. “grown tall,” almus "nurturing, nourishing," alumnus "fosterling, step-child;" O.Ir. alim "I nourish"). The usual PIE root is *sen- (cf. senior). A few IE 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. L. senex was used of aged living things, mostly persons, while vetus (lit. "having many years") was used of inanimate things. Gk. geraios was used mostly of humans; Gk. palaios was used mostly of things, of persons only in a derogatory sense. Gk. also had arkhaios, lit. "belonging to the beginning," which parallels Fr. ancien, used mostly with ref. to things "of former times." O.E. also had fyrn "ancient," related to O.E. feor "far, distant" (see far, and cf. Goth. fairneis, O.N. forn "old, of old, of former times," O.H.G. firni "old, experienced"). The original O.E. vowel is preserved in Scots auld. The original comp. and superl. retained in particular uses elder, eldest, also alderman). Pseudo-archaic mock-antique variant olde is attested from 1927. Oldie "an old tune or film" is from 1940. 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 c.1386. Old Glory for "the American flag" is first attested 1862. Old maid "woman who remains single well beyond the usual marrying age" is from 1530; the card game is attested by that name from 1844. Old man "husband, father, boss" is from 1854, earlier (1830) military slang for "commanding officer;" old lady "wife, mother" is attested from c.1775. Old English is attested from 1849 as a type of black-letter font.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

old
adjective
1.	(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age; "his mother is very old"; "a ripe old age"; "how old are you?" [ant: immature]
2.	of long duration; not new; "old tradition"; "old house"; "old wine"; "old country"; "old friendships"; "old money" [ant: new]
3.	(used for emphasis) very familiar; "good old boy"; "same old story"
4.	skilled through long experience; "an old offender"; "the older soldiers"
5.	belonging to some prior time; "erstwhile friend"; "our former glory"; "the once capital of the state"; "her quondam lover" [syn: erstwhile]
6.	(used informally especially for emphasis); "a real honest-to-god live cowboy"; "had us a high old time"; "went upriver to look at a sure-enough fish wheel" [syn: honest-to-god]
7.	of a very early stage in development; "Old English is also called Anglo Saxon"; "Old High German is High German from the middle of the 9th to the end of the 11th century"
8.	just preceding something else in time or order; "the previous owner"; "my old house was larger" [syn: previous]
noun
1.	past times (especially in the phrase 'in days of old')

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

old

In addition to the idioms beginning with old, also see any old; chip off the old block; comfortable as an old shoe; dirty joke (old man); get the air (old heave-ho); no fool like an old fool; of old; ripe old age; same old story; settle a score (old scores); stamping ground, old; teach an old dog new tricks; up to one's old tricks.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
old1 [əuld] adjective

advanced in age
Example: an old man; He is too old to live alone.

Arabic:	عَجوز، مُسِن
Chinese (Simplified):	年老的
Chinese (Traditional):	年老的
Czech:	starý
Danish:	gammel
Dutch:	oud
Estonian:	vana
Finnish:	vanha
French:	vieux
German:	alt
Greek:	ηλικιωμένος
Hungarian:	öreg
Icelandic:	gamall
Indonesian:	tua
Italian:	vecchio

Japanese:	年老いた
Korean:	나이 많은
Latvian:	vecs
Lithuanian:	senas, senyvas
Norwegian:	gammel
Polish:	stary
Portuguese (Brazil):	velho
Portuguese (Portugal):	velho
Romanian:	bătrân
Russian:	старый
Slovak:	starý
Slovenian:	star
Spanish:	viejo, mayor
Swedish:	gammal
Turkish:	yaşlı, ihtiyar

old2 [əuld] adjective

having a certain age
Example: He is thirty years old.

Arabic:	من العُمْر، عُمْرُه
Chinese (Simplified):	人…岁
Chinese (Traditional):	人…歲
Czech:	starý
Danish:	gammel
Dutch:	oud
Estonian:	vana
Finnish:	vanha
French:	âgé de
German:	alt
Greek:	ηλικίας
Hungarian:	… éves
Icelandic:	gamall
Indonesian:	berumur
Italian:	(di età)

Japanese:	～歳の
Korean:	…살의
Latvian:	vecs
Lithuanian:	amžiaus
Norwegian:	gammel
Polish:	w wieku
Portuguese (Brazil):	de idade
Portuguese (Portugal):	de idade
Romanian:	în vârstă de
Russian:	возраста
Slovak:	starý
Slovenian:	star
Spanish:	de edad
Swedish:	gammal
Turkish:	… yaşında, … yaşta

old3 [əuld] adjective

having existed for a long time
Example: an old building; Those trees are very old.

Arabic:	قَديم
Chinese (Simplified):	年久的
Chinese (Traditional):	年久的
Czech:	starý
Danish:	gammel
Dutch:	oud
Estonian:	vana
Finnish:	vanha
French:	vieux
German:	alt
Greek:	παλιός
Hungarian:	régi
Icelandic:	gamall
Indonesian:	tua
Italian:	vecchio

Japanese:	古い
Korean:	오래된
Latvian:	vecs; sens
Lithuanian:	senas
Norwegian:	gammel
Polish:	stary
Portuguese (Brazil):	velho
Portuguese (Portugal):	velho
Romanian:	vechi
Russian:	старый
Slovak:	starý
Slovenian:	star
Spanish:	viejo, antiguo
Swedish:	gammal
Turkish:	eski, eskimiş

old4 [əuld] adjective

no longer useful
Example: She threw away the old shoes.

Arabic:	عَتيق، بالٍ
Chinese (Simplified):	破旧的
Chinese (Traditional):	破舊的
Czech:	starý
Danish:	gammel
Dutch:	oud
Estonian:	vana
Finnish:	vanha
French:	vieux
German:	alt
Greek:	παλιός, άχρηστος
Hungarian:	idejétmúlt
Icelandic:	gamall, notaður
Indonesian:	usang
Italian:	vecchio

Japanese:	使い古した
Korean:	낡은
Latvian:	vecs; nolietots
Lithuanian:	senas
Norwegian:	avlagt, gammel
Polish:	stary
Portuguese (Brazil):	velho
Portuguese (Portugal):	velho
Romanian:	învechit
Russian:	старый
Slovak:	starý
Slovenian:	star
Spanish:	viejo
Swedish:	gammal
Turkish:	eski, eskimiş

old5 [əuld] adjective

belonging to times long ago
Example: old civilizations like that of Greece

Arabic:	قَديم
Chinese (Simplified):	古老的
Chinese (Traditional):	古老的
Czech:	starý, dávný
Danish:	gammel
Dutch:	oud
Estonian:	muistne
Finnish:	muinainen
French:	ancien
German:	vergangen
Greek:	αρχαίος
Hungarian:	hajdani
Icelandic:	forn
Indonesian:	kuno
Italian:	antico

Japanese:	昔の
Korean:	고대의, 왕년의
Latvian:	sens
Lithuanian:	senovės, senų laikų
Norwegian:	tidligere, gammel, forhenværende
Polish:	starożytny
Portuguese (Brazil):	antigo
Portuguese (Portugal):	antigo
Romanian:	străvechi
Russian:	древний
Slovak:	starý, dávny
Slovenian:	star
Spanish:	antiguo
Swedish:	gammal
Turkish:	eski

See also: old-fashioned, old age, old boy/girl, old hand, old maid, the old

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Old Appleton, MO (town, FIPS 54200) Location: 37.59320 N, 89.70939 W
Population (1990): 82 (28 housing units)
Area: 0.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 63770

Old Hickory, TN Zip code(s): 37138

Old Landing, KY Zip code(s): 41358

Old Lyme, CT Zip code(s): 06371

Old Monroe, MO (city, FIPS 54416) Location: 38.93128 N, 90.74702 W
Population (1990): 242 (109 housing units)
Area: 0.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 63369

Old Saybrook, CT Zip code(s): 06475

Old Station, CA Zip code(s): 96071

Old Tappan, NJ (borough, FIPS 54870) Location: 41.01620 N, 73.98303 W
Population (1990): 4254 (1355 housing units)
Area: 8.4 sq km (land), 2.2 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 07675

Old Town, FL Zip code(s): 32680

Old Town, ID Zip code(s): 83822

Old Town, ME (city, FIPS 55225) Location: 44.95344 N, 68.73659 W
Population (1990): 8317 (3547 housing units)
Area: 99.2 sq km (land), 11.3 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 04468

Old Greenwich, CT Zip code(s): 06870

Old Glory, TX Zip code(s): 79540

Old Fort, NC (town, FIPS 48920) Location: 35.63210 N, 82.17584 W
Population (1990): 720 (352 housing units)
Area: 2.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 28762

Old Bethpage, NY (CDP, FIPS 54551) Location: 40.75427 N, 73.45550 W
Population (1990): 5610 (1862 housing units)
Area: 10.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 11804

Old Bridge, NJ (CDP, FIPS 54690) Location: 40.39295 N, 74.33003 W
Population (1990): 22151 (7145 housing units)
Area: 18.9 sq km (land), 0.3 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 08857

Old Chatham, NY Zip code(s): 12136

Old Westbury, NY (village, FIPS 54705) Location: 40.78625 N, 73.59623 W
Population (1990): 3897 (1004 housing units)
Area: 22.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 11568

Old Fields, WV Zip code(s): 26845

Old Forge, PA (borough, FIPS 56576) Location: 41.36895 N, 75.74235 W
Population (1990): 8834 (3798 housing units)
Area: 8.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 18518

Old Forge, NY Zip code(s): 13420

Old Ripley, IL (village, FIPS 55717) Location: 38.89235 N, 89.57295 W
Population (1990): 95 (42 housing units)
Area: 0.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Old Washington, OH (village, FIPS 58226) Location: 40.03740 N, 81.44440 W
Population (1990): 281 (114 housing units)
Area: 1.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Old Bennington, VT (village, FIPS 53125) Location: 42.88333 N, 73.21376 W
Population (1990): 279 (129 housing units)
Area: 1.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Old Harbor, AK (city, FIPS 57340) Location: 57.24503 N, 153.37359 W
Population (1990): 284 (112 housing units)
Area: 52.9 sq km (land), 15.6 sq km (water)

Old Brookville, NY (village, FIPS 54562) Location: 40.82752 N, 73.60491 W
Population (1990): 1823 (627 housing units)
Area: 10.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Old Shawneetown, IL (village, FIPS 55756) Location: 37.69693 N, 88.13784 W
Population (1990): 356 (158 housing units)
Area: 1.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Old Jefferson, LA (CDP, FIPS 57705) Location: 30.37910 N, 91.00339 W
Population (1990): 4531 (1599 housing units)
Area: 9.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Old Orchard, PA (CDP, FIPS 56624) Location: 40.65779 N, 75.26260 W
Population (1990): 2598 (935 housing units)
Area: 1.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Old Field, NY (village, FIPS 54617) Location: 40.96227 N, 73.13077 W
Population (1990): 765 (325 housing units)
Area: 5.3 sq km (land), 0.3 sq km (water)

Old Orchard Beac, ME Zip code(s): 04064

Old Saybrook Center, CT (CDP, FIPS 57390) Location: 41.29136 N, 72.36876 W
Population (1990): 1820 (940 housing units)
Area: 5.1 sq km (land), 2.4 sq km (water)

Old Brownsboro Place, KY (city, FIPS 57658) Location: 38.28945 N, 85.61369 W
Population (1990): 348 (123 housing units)
Area: 0.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Old Orchard Beach, ME (CDP, FIPS 55120) Location: 43.52428 N, 70.38422 W
Population (1990): 7789 (5668 housing units)
Area: 19.3 sq km (land), 1.1 sq km (water)

Old Mill Creek, IL (village, FIPS 55639) Location: 42.43310 N, 87.98211 W
Population (1990): 73 (31 housing units)
Area: 15.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Old River-Winfree, TX (town, FIPS 53824) Location: 29.87826 N, 94.82428 W
Population (1990): 1233 (370 housing units)
Area: 3.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Old

A*dult"\, a. [L. adultus, p. p. of adolescere, akin to alere to nourish: cf. F. adulte. See Adolescent, Old.] Having arrived at maturity, or to full size and strength; matured; as, an adult person or plant; an adult ape; an adult age.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Old

Al"i*ment\, n. [L. alimentum, fr. alere to nourish; akin to Goth. alan to grow, Icel. ala to nourish: cf. F. aliment. See Old.]

1. That which nourishes; food; nutriment; anything which feeds or adds to a substance in natural growth. Hence: The necessaries of life generally: sustenance; means of support.

Aliments of their sloth and weakness. --Bacon.

2. An allowance for maintenance. [Scot.]

Acronym Finder - Cite This Source - Share This

OLD

OLD: in Acronym Finder

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