any tree or shrub belonging to the genus Sambucus, of the honeysuckle family, having pinnate leaves, clusters of white flowers, and red or black, berrylike fruit.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME eldre, elrene, ellerne, OE ellærn; c. MLG ellern]
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.
An older, influential member of a family, tribe, or community.
One of the governing officers of a church, often having pastoral or teaching functions.
Mormon Church A member of the higher order of priesthood.
[Middle English eldre, from Old English eldra; see al-2 in Indo-European roots.]
el'der·ship' n.
Usage Note: The adjective elder is not a synonym for elderly. In comparisons between two persons, elder means "older" but not necessarily "old": My elder sister is sixteen; my younger, twelve. (Eldest is used when three or more persons are compared: He is the eldest of four brothers.) In other contexts elder does denote relatively advanced age but with the added component of respect for a person's achievement, as in an elder statesman. If age alone is to be expressed, one should use older or elderly rather than elder: A survey of older Americans; an elderly waiter. · Unlike elder and its related forms, the adjectives old, older, and oldest are applied to things as well as to persons.
el·der 2Audio Help (ěl'dər) Pronunciation Key
n.
Any of various shrubs or small trees of the genus Sambucus, having clusters of small white flowers and red or purplish-black berrylike fruit.
Box Elder County, UT (county, FIPS 3) Location: 41.51492 N, 113.09714 W Population (1990): 36485 (11890 housing units) Area: 14824.3 sq km (land), 2604.9 sq km (water)
Box Elder, MT Zip code(s): 59521
Box Elder, SD (city, FIPS 6620) Location: 44.11957 N, 103.07207 W Population (1990): 2680 (1050 housing units) Area: 8.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 57719
Glen Elder, KS (city, FIPS 26500) Location: 39.49970 N, 98.30618 W Population (1990): 448 (255 housing units) Area: 1.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 67446
Al"der*man\ ([add]l"d[~e]r*man), n.; pl. Aldermen. [AS. aldormon, ealdorman; ealdor an elder + man. See Elder, n.]1. A senior or superior; a person of rank or dignity. [Obs.] Note: The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to princes, dukes, earls, senators, and presiding magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom or authority. Thus Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called Alderman of all England; and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective districts. 3. One of a board or body of municipal officers next in order to the mayor and having a legislative function. They may, in some cases, individually exercise some magisterial and administrative functions.
Bors"hold`er\, n. [OE. borsolder; prob. fr. AS. borg, gen. borges, pledge + ealdor elder. See Borrow, and Elder, a.] (Eng. Law) The head or chief of a tithing, or borough (see 2d Borough); the headborough; a parish constable. --Spelman.
Eld"er\, a. [AS. yldra, compar. of eald old. See Old.]1. Older; more aged, or existing longer. Let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier deeds. --Jowett (Thucyd. ) 2. Born before another; prior in years; senior; earlier; older; as, his elder brother died in infancy; -- opposed to younger, and now commonly applied to a son, daughter, child, brother, etc. The elder shall serve the younger. --Gen. xxv. 23. But ask of elder days, earth's vernal hour. --Keble. Elder hand (Card Playing), the hand playing, or having the right to play, first. --Hoyle.
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Audio Help [el-der] Pronunciation Key 
