old */*/*/

UK [əʊld] / US [oʊld] adjective
Word forms "old":
adjective old comparative older superlative oldest

Words that may cause offence: old:

Avoid saying that someone is old or elderly, and avoid referring to old or elderly people as the old or the elderly. Instead, use expressions such as older people, retired people, the over 50s/60s etc or seniors where appropriate.

1)

a) used for talking about the age of someone or something

how old:

She didn't mention how old her children were.

"How old are you?" "I'm 5 years old."

old enough to do something:

He's not old enough to see this film.

too old to do something:

Aren't you too old to play with dolls?

b) used for saying that someone is not as young as other people

He's 26 now, which is quite old in this sport.

the oldest:

He's the oldest boy in his class.

older than:

I'm older than my brother.

2)

a) someone or something that is old has lived a long time

A lot of old people live alone.

Trees are the oldest living things on the planet.

get/grow old:

I hope I'll still be able to play golf when I get old.

b) the old old people. Many people now think that this expression is offensive.

3) something that is old has existed or been used for a long time

There's an old belief that animals can predict earthquakes.

Her sewing machine's really old – it was her mother's.

a) [only before noun] used in a negative way about something that is not useful or in good condition any longer

Why do you keep all these old newspapers?

That old car of theirs is getting so unreliable.

b) [only before noun] used in a positive way about something that is very familiar

It was nice to get back into my old routine.

4) [only before noun] used for describing something that existed, happened, or was used in the past

"Thy" is an old way of saying "your".

Look at all these old machines!

a) used for referring to something that has been replaced by a newer thing of the same type

The old motorway to Glasgow only had two lanes.

b) used with the names of towns and countries, for referring to the oldest part or to the way it was in the past

a tour of Warsaw's picturesque Old Town

c) used with the names of languages to refer to the form of the language that was used in the past

a poem written in Old English

5) informal used for showing that you like someone and care about them

How is my old buddy Jim?

dear old:

Dear old Aunty Emily – what would we do without her?

•

a 3-year-old/10-month-old etc — someone who has been alive for 3 years/10 months etc

I have two children, a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old.

an old friend/ally/enemy etc — someone who has been your friend/ally/enemy etc for a very long time

Pam and Sue are old friends.

an old student/girlfriend etc — someone who was your student/girlfriend etc in the past

I still get letters from some of my old students.

be 5 years/10 months etc old — to have been alive, or to have existed for, 5 years/10 months etc

My daughter Sophia is 3 years old.

European cities are centuries older than ours.

(as) old as the hills — spoken extremely old

"I like your dress." "Really? It's as old as the hills."

old enough to be someone's mother/father — much older than a particular person. This phrase is usually used for talking about two people who are having a romantic relationship.

- for old times' sake

- of old

- poor old

- your old self

See:

good I, any