describing people who are old

old S1 W1 /əʊld $ oʊld/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative older, superlative oldest)
[Language: Old English; Origin: eald]
1. NOT NEW something that is old has existed or been used for a long time OPP new:
a pair of old shoes
Some of the houses around here are very old.
one of our oldest traditions
The car’s getting old now, and things are starting to go wrong with it.
That story’s as old as the hills (=extremely old).
2.
NOT YOUNG
a) someone who is old has lived for a very long time OPP young:
an old man
a home for old people
get/grow old
I can’t run around like I used to – I must be getting old.
b) the old [plural] people who are old:
the care of the old and sick
3. AGE used to talk about how long a person or thing has lived or existed
five/ten/fifty etc years old
I can’t believe you’re nearly forty years old!
a house that’s 300 years old
How old are you?
Are you older than Sally?
You’re old enough to get your own breakfast now.
I’m not coming skating. I’m too old for that now.
five-year-old/ten-year-old etc somebody/something
a six-week-old baby
a 500-year-old sword
somebody is old enough to know better (=used to say that you think someone should behave more sensibly)
somebody is old enough to be his/her/your mother/father (=used to say that someone is too old to be having a sexual relationship with someone else)
4. THAT YOU USED TO HAVE [only before noun] your old house, job, girlfriend etc is one that you used to have SYN former:
I met up with one of my old girlfriends at the weekend.
My old car was always breaking down.
That happened when we were still in the old house.
My old boss was awful!
old flame (=someone with whom you used to have a romantic relationship)
5. FAMILIAR [only before noun] old things are things that are familiar to you because you have seen them or experienced them many times before:
It’s good to get back into the old routine.
I enjoyed seeing all the old familiar faces.
He comes out with the same old excuses every time! ⇨ it’s the same old story at ↑story(9)
6. VERY WELL KNOWN [only before noun] an old friend, enemy etc is someone you have known for a long time:
Bob’s an old friend of mine.
an old colleague
They’re old rivals.
7. the old days times in the past
in the old days
In the old days people used to fetch water from the pump.
8. the good old days/the bad old days an earlier time in your life, or in history, when things seemed better or worse than now:
We like to chat about the good old days.
9. be/feel/look like your old self to feel or look better again after you have been ill or very unhappy:
It’s good to see you looking more like your old self again.
10. any old thing/place/time etc spoken used to say that it does not matter which thing, place etc you choose:
Oh, just wear any old thing.
Phone any old time – I’m always here.
11. any old how/way spoken in an untidy or careless way:
The papers had been dumped on my desk any old how.
12. good/poor/silly old etc somebody spoken used to talk about someone you like:
Good old Keith!
You poor old thing!
13. a good old something (also a right old something British English) spoken used to talk about something you enjoy:
We had a good old talk.
14. old devil/rascal etc spoken used to talk about someone you like and admire:
You old devil! You were planning this all along!
15. old fool/bastard/bat etc spoken not polite used to talk very rudely about someone you do not like:
the stupid old cow
16. the old guard a group of people within an organization or club who do not like changes or new ideas:
He’ll never manage to persuade the old guard.
17. be an old hand (at something) to have a lot of experience of something:
I’m an old hand at this game.
18. be old before your time to look or behave like someone much older than you, especially because of difficulties in your life
19. for old times’ sake if you do something for old times’ sake, you do it to remind yourself of a happy time in the past
20. the old country especially American English the country that you were born in, but that you no longer live in, used especially to mean Europe
21. an old head on young shoulders British English a young person who seems to think and behave like an older person
22. pay/settle an old score to punish someone for something wrong that they did to you in the past
23. of/from the old school old-fashioned and believing in old ideas and customs:
a doctor of the old school
24. old wives’ tale a belief based on old ideas that are now considered to be untrue
25. of old literary from a long time ago in the past:
the knights of old
26. Old English/Old Icelandic etc an early form of English, Icelandic etc
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ phrases
▪ be 5/10/50 etc years old My dad is 45 years old.
▪ a five-year-old/fifteen-year-old etc somebody/something a three-year-old boy
▪ how old is …? ‘How old is your daughter?’ ‘She’s ten.’
▪ be too old for something He was too old for military service.
▪ be old enough to do something You’re old enough to help with the cooking.
▪ somebody is old enough to know better (=used when you think someone should behave more sensibly) He’s old enough to know better, but he went and did it anyway!
▪ somebody is old enough to be sb’s mother/father (=used when you think that someone is much too old to be having a relationship with another person ) Why would she want to go out with someone who was old enough to be her father?
• • •
THESAURUS
■ person
▪ old having lived for a long time: an old man | I’m too old to learn a new language.
▪ elderly a polite word for old: an elderly lady | a home for the elderly (=elderly people) | If you are elderly, you may be eligible for financial assistance.
▪ aging (also ageing British English) [only before noun] becoming old: an ageing rock star | the problems of an ageing population
▪ aged /ˈeɪdʒəd, ˈeɪdʒɪd/ [only before noun] written aged relatives are very old: aged parents | She had to look after her aged aunt.
▪ elder brother/sister especially British English [only before noun] an older brother or sister. Elder sounds more formal than older: I have two elder brothers.
▪ ancient [not usually before noun] informal very old – used humorously: I’ll be 30 next year – it sounds really ancient!
▪ be getting on (in years) informal to be fairly old: He’s 60 now, so he’s getting on a bit.
▪ be over the hill (also be past it British English) informal to be too old to do something: Everyone thinks you’re past it when you get to 40.
▪ geriatric [only before noun] relating to medical care and treatment for old people: a geriatric hospital | geriatric patients
■ thing
▪ old: an old car | an old Chinese saying
▪ ancient very old – used about things that existed thousands of years ago, or things that look very old: ancient civilisations | an ancient Rolls Royce
▪ antique antique furniture, clocks, jewellery etc are old and often valuable: an antique writing desk
▪ age-old used about traditions, problems, or situations that have existed for a very long time: the age-old tradition of morris dancing | the age-old prejudice against women in positions of power | the age-old problem of nationalism | age-old hatreds between religious groups

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

old

old [old older oldest] [əʊld] [oʊld] adjective (old·er, old·est)

AGE
1. be… years, months, etc. ~ of a particular age
• The baby was only a few hours old.
• In those days most people left school when they were only fifteen years old.
• At thirty years old, he was already earning £40 000 a year.
• two fourteen-year-old boys
• a class for five-year-olds (= children who are five)
• I didn't think she was old enough for the responsibility.
• How old is this building?
• He's the oldest player in the team.

• She's much older than me.

NOT YOUNG

2. having lived for a long time; no longer young
• to get/grow old
• The old man lay propped up on cushions.
• She was a woman grown old before her time (= who looked older than she was).

Opp: young

3. the old noun plural old people

• The old feel the cold more than the young.

NOT NEW

4. having existed or been used for a long time
• old habits
• He always gives the same old excuses.
• This carpet's getting pretty old now.

Opp: new

5. only before noun former; belonging to past times or a past time in your life
• Things were different in the old days.
• I went back to visit my old school.

• Old and Middle English

6. only before noun used to refer to sth that has been replaced by sth else
• We had more room in our old house.

Opp: new

7. only before noun known for a long time
• She's an old friend of mine (= I have known her for a long time).
• We're old rivals.

compare recent

GOOD OLD/POOR OLD

8. only before noun (informal) used to show affection or a lack of respect
• Good old Dad!
• You poor old thing!

• I hate her, the silly old cow!

Rem: or
more at a chip off the old block at chip _n., (there's) no fool like an old fool at fool _n., a/the grand old agea/the grand old man (of sth) at grand _adj., give sb the (old) heave-ho at heave-ho, have a high old time at high _adj., money for jam/old rope at money, a/the ripe old age (of…) at ripe, settle an old score at settle _v., (you can't) teach an old dog new tricks at teach, (as) tough as old boots at tough _adj., be up to your (old) tricks at trick _n.
Idioms: any old how ▪ any old … ▪ as old as the hills ▪ bad old days ▪ for old times' sake ▪ of old ▪ old boy/chap/man ▪ old enough to be somebody's father ▪ old enough to know better ▪ old head on young shoulders ▪ old story ▪ old wives' tale ▪ one of the old school
Word Origin:
Old English ald, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch oud and German alt, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘adult’, shared by Latin alere ‘nourish’.
Thesaurus:
old adj.
1.
• He's getting old— he's 75 next year.
elderly • • mature • • long-lived • |formal aged •
Opp: young
a/an old/elderly/mature/long-lived/aged man/woman
a/an old/elderly/mature/aged gentleman/lady/couple
sb's old/elderly/aged father/mother/aunt/uncle/relative
2.
• It's one of the oldest parts of the castle.
ancient • • historic • • antique • • long-standing •
Opp: new
a/an old/ancient/historic building/monument
an old/ancient/antique chair/clock/coin
a/an old/ancient/long-standing tradition/belief/method/problem
an old/ancient custom/way/ritual/city/civilization
3.
• We had more room in our old house.
former • • then • • ex- •
Opp: new
sb's old/former/then/ex-partner/boyfriend/girlfriend
a/an old/former/ex-lover/colleague/member
a/an old/former/ex-student/colony
Synonyms:
old
elderly • aged • long-lived • mature
These words all describe sb/sth that has lived for a long time or that usually lives for a long time.
old • having lived for a long time; no longer young: ▪ She's getting old— she's 75 next year.
elderly • (rather formal) used as a polite word for ‘old’: ▪ She is very busy caring for two elderly relatives.
aged • (formal) very old: ▪ Having aged relatives to stay in your house can be quite stressful.
long-lived • having a long life; lasting for a long time: ▪ Everyone in my family is exceptionally long-lived.
mature • used as a polite or humorous way of saying that sb is no longer young: ▪ clothes for the mature woman
a(n) old/elderly/aged/long-lived/mature man/woman
a(n) old/elderly/aged/mature gentleman/lady/couple
Which Word?:
older / elder
The usual comparative and superlative forms of old are older and oldest: ▪ My brother is older than me. ◊ ▪ The palace is the oldest building in the city. In BrE you can also use elder and eldest when comparing the ages of people, especially members of the same family, although these words are not common in speech now. As adjectives they are only used before a noun and you cannot say ‘elder than’: ▪ my older/elder sister ◊ ▪ the elder/older of their two children ◊ ▪ I’m the eldest/oldest in the family.
Example Bank:
• Good old Dad!
• He was beginning to look old.
• He's a silly old fool!
• He's old enough by now to manage his own affairs.
• It's a funny old world.
• It's a very old tradition.
• It's always the same old faces.
• It's one of the oldest remaining parts of the church.
• It's the world's oldest surviving ship.
• She was fairly old when she got married.
• She's a silly old cow!
• The way the young people rushed about made her feel old.
• These are some of the oldest known fossil remains.
• We're all getting older.
• Why drink plain old water when you can have something better?
• You are as old as you feel.
• boring old history books
• I met up with some old school friends.
• It's not easy to break old habits.
• She was a woman grown old before her time.
• She's getting old— she's 75 next year.
• These are some of the oldest trees in the world.
• Things were different in the old days.

• This carpet's getting pretty old now.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

old / əʊld / / oʊld / adjective (NOT YOUNG/NEW)

A1 having lived or existed for many years:

an old man

We're all getting older.

I was shocked by how old he looked.

Now come on, you're old enough to tie your own shoelaces, Carlo.

I'm too old to be out clubbing every night.

a beautiful old farm house in the country

a battered old car

That's an old joke - I've heard it about a thousand times.

I think this cheese is a bit old judging by the smell of it.

too old/a bit old disapproving unsuitable because intended for older people:

Don't you think that book is a bit old for you?

old / əʊld / / oʊld / adjective (WHAT AGE)

A1 used to describe or ask about someone's age:

How old is your father?

Rosie's six years old now.

It's not very dignified behaviour for a 54-year-old man.

He's a couple of years older than me.

old / əʊld / / oʊld / adjective [ before noun ] (FROM THE PAST)

A2 from a period in the past:

I saw my old English teacher last time I went home.

He's bought me a smart new camera to replace my old one.

She showed me her old school.

I saw an old boyfriend of mine.

In my old job I wasn't given sick-pay.

→ Synonym former adjective

old / əʊld / / oʊld / adjective (LANGUAGE)

Old English, French, etc.

describes a language when it was in an early stage in its development

old / əʊld / / oʊld / adjective (VERY FAMILIAR)

A2 [ before noun ] (especially of a friend) known for a long time:

She's one of my oldest friends - we met at school.

[ before noun ] informal used before someone's name when you are referring to or talking to them, to show that you know them well and like them:

There's old Sara working away in the corner.

I hear poor old Frank's lost his job.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

old

/oʊld/
(older, oldest)

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

1.
Someone who is old has lived for many years and is no longer young.
...a white-haired old man...
He was considered too old for the job.
= elderly
≠ young
ADJ
•
The old are people who are old.
...providing a caring response for the needs of the old and the handicapped.
N-PLURAL: the N

2.
You use old to talk about how many days, weeks, months, or years someone or something has lived or existed.
He was abandoned by his father when he was three months old...
The paintings in the chapel were perhaps a thousand years old...
How old are you now?...
Bill was six years older than David.
ADJ: amount ADJ, how ADJ, as ADJ as, ADJ-compar than

3.
Something that is old has existed for a long time.
She loved the big old house...
These books must be very old.
...an old Arab proverb.
≠ new
ADJ

4.
Something that is old is no longer in good condition because of its age or because it has been used a lot.
He took a bunch of keys from the pocket of his old corduroy trousers.
...an old toothbrush.
≠ new
ADJ: usu ADJ n

5.
You use old to refer to something that is no longer used, that no longer exists, or that has been replaced by something else.
The old road had disappeared under grass and heather...
Although the old secret police have been abolished, the military police still exist...
ADJ: ADJ n

6.
You use old to refer to something that used to belong to you, or to a person or thing that used to have a particular role in your life.
I’ll make up the bed in your old room...
Mark was heartbroken when Jane returned to her old boyfriend.
ADJ: poss ADJ n

7.
An old friend, enemy, or rival is someone who has been your friend, enemy, or rival for a long time.
I called my old friend John Horner...
The French and English are old rivals.
ADJ: ADJ n

8.
You can use old to express affection when talking to or about someone you know. (INFORMAL)
Are you all right, old chap?...
Good old Bergen would do him the favor.
ADJ: ADJ n [feelings]

9.
You use any old to emphasize that the quality or type of something is not important. If you say that a particular thing is not any old thing, you are emphasizing how special or famous it is. (INFORMAL)
The portraits and sumptuous ornaments, and the gold clock, show that this is not just any old front room.
PHRASE: PHR n [emphasis]

10.
In the old days means in the past, before things changed.
In the old days we got a visit from the vet maybe once a year.
PHRASE: PHR with cl

11.
When people refer to the good old days, they are referring to a time in the past when they think that life was better than it is now.
He remembers the good old days when everyone in his village knew him and you could leave your door open at night.
PHRASE

12.
good old: see good
to settle an old score: see score
up to one’s old tricks: see trick

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹old /ˈoʊld/ adj old·er; -est
1 a : having lived for many years : not young
• He's an old man now.
• a little old lady
• She was helping an old [=(more politely) elderly] woman cross the street.
b
- used to talk about or ask about a person's age
• He looks old for his age. [=he looks older than he really is]
• She's older than she looks. [=she has a young appearance]
• He's dating an older woman. [=a woman who is older than he is]
• I wasn't old enough [=I was too young] to vote in the last election.
• “How old is your daughter?” “She's almost six.”
• Their oldest [=eldest] child is 18 years old.
• My sister's three years older than me.
• She lived to the ripe old age of 85.
• He joked that he was as old as the hills. [=very old]
c : having a specified age
• He's 30 years old.
• a nine-month-old baby
2 a : having existed or been in use for a long time : not new
• We rented an old black-and-white movie.
• old newspapers/magazines
• a beautiful old house
• There's an old saying that good fences make good neighbors.
• an old family tradition
• a new approach to an old problem
• She wore a T-shirt and an old pair of jeans.
• I wish you would stop wearing that dirty old hat!
• The hotel was old and dingy.
• the oldest known civilization in the region
b : having existed for a specified amount of time
• The house we live in is 50 years old.
• a 400-year-old castle
3 always used before a noun
a : belonging to, used by, or known by someone in the past
• We went back to visit our old neighborhood.
• I met one of my old [=former] professors at the library.
• one of his old cars
• I made a lot less money at my old job.
• That's their old number. The new number is 555-4397.
• She is now just a shadow of her old self. [=she is not the person she was in the past]
b
- used to say that someone or something has been your friend, enemy, etc., for a long time
• I had lunch with an old friend of mine. [=a friend I have known for a very long time]
• They're old enemies.
• Spaghetti is an old favorite in our home.
4 always used before a noun : done or experienced many times
• Do we have to go through that old routine again?
• Grandpa tells the same old stories over and over again.
• When she brought up the same old argument, I just stopped listening.
5 informal
- used for emphasis after adjectives like big, good, etc.
• We had a big old party in her honor.
• You poor old thing. You must be exhausted!
• Good old Joe. He's always helping people in need.
any old informal
- used to describe someone or something that is not special or specific
• I don't care where I sleep. Any old couch will do.
• She won't drink any old tea; it has to be her favorite kind.
• You'll have to park any old way [=any way] you can.
• Give me beer over champagne any old day (of the week).
chip off the old block
- see ¹chip
for old times' sake
- see ¹sake
old boy/chap/man/etc. Brit old-fashioned
- used to address a man
• Don't worry, old chap, it'll be all right.
- see also old boy

- see also good old boy

synonyms old, ancient, antique, and archaic describe things that existed or were used in the past. old is the most common and general of these words and can refer to either the recent past or to the distant past.
• This is one of my old sweaters.
• The neighborhood has many old houses that were built more than 200 years ago. ancient refers to things that happened or existed in the very distant past and that may or may not exist today.
• an ancient custom
• the ancient pyramids of Egypt antique refers to things, such as toys, machines, and pieces of furniture, that have been kept from the past and that are often valuable.
• She collects antique furniture. archaic refers to things, such as words or ways of behaving, that belong to a much earlier time and that are no longer used.
• The play used archaic language to convey a sense of the past.
• an archaic tradition