ELDERLY


Meaning of ELDERLY in English

el ‧ der ‧ ly S3 W2 /ˈeldəli $ ˈeldərli/ BrE AmE adjective

1 . used as a polite way of saying that someone is old or becoming old:

a well-dressed elderly woman

2 . the elderly people who are old:

a retirement village for the elderly

• • •

THESAURUS

■ person

▪ old having lived for a long time:

an old man

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I’m too old to learn a new language.

▪ elderly a polite word for old:

an elderly lady

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a home for the elderly (=elderly people)

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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

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the problems of an ageing population

▪ aged /ˈeɪdʒəd, ˈeɪdʒɪd/ [only before noun] written aged relatives are very old:

aged parents

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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

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geriatric patients

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.