senescent

[ si-nes-uhnt ]
See synonyms for: senescentsenescence on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. growing old; aging.

  2. Cell Biology. (of a cell) no longer capable of dividing but still alive and metabolically active.

Origin of senescent

1
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin senēscent- (stem of senēscēns ) present participle of senēscere “to grow old,” equivalent to sen- “old” + -ēscent- -escent

Other words from senescent

  • se·nes·cence, noun
  • un·se·nes·cent, adjective

Words Nearby senescent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use senescent in a sentence

  • By that sort of piety to which senescent female sinners everywhere and at all times devote themselves she secured new friends.

    Lucretia Borgia | Ferdinand Gregorovius
  • That senescent October moon which a year ago marked the end of love's halcyon would have been a suitable light for such a party.

    Carnival | Compton Mackenzie
  • A senescent city; mostly antiquated Spanish architecture,—ponderous archways and earthquake-proof walls.

British Dictionary definitions for senescent

senescent

/ (sɪˈnɛsənt) /


adjective
  1. growing old

  2. characteristic of old age

Origin of senescent

1
C17: from Latin senēscere to grow old, from senex old

Derived forms of senescent

  • senescence, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012