old
♦♦♦ old /'oʊld/ (older oldest)
1 [ADJ]
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
[N-PLURAL] the N
The old are people who are old.
...providing a caring response for the needs of the old and the handicapped.
2 [ADJ] amount ADJ, how ADJ, as ADJ as, ADJ-compar than
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.
3 [ADJ]
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
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
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
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
You use old to refer to something that is no longer used, that no longer exists, or that has been replaced by something else.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...
6 [ADJ] poss ADJ n
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.
7 [ADJ] ADJ n
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.
8 [ADJ] ADJ n
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.
9 [PHRASE] PHR n
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.
10 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
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.
11 [PHRASE]
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.
12
good old: see good
to settle an old score: see score
up to one's old tricks: see trickold age
[N-UNCOUNT] oft poss N
Your old age is the period of years towards the end of your life.
They worry about how they will support themselves in their old age...
≠ youthold age pen|sion (old age pensions)
also old-age pension
[N-COUNT]
An old age pension is a regular amount of money that people receive from the government when they have retired from work. (BRIT; in AM, use social security benefit, social security payment)old age pen|sion|er (old age pensioners)
also old-age pensioner
[N-COUNT]
An old age pensioner is a person who is old enough to receive an pension from their employer or the government. (BRIT)
= OAPold bat (old bats)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
If someone refers to an old person, especially an old woman, as an old bat, they think that person is silly, annoying, or unpleasant. (INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE)old boy (old boys)
[N-COUNT]
You can refer to a man who used to be a pupil at a particular school or university as an old boy. (BRIT)
...Eton College, with all its traditions and long list of famous old boys.old flame (old flames)
[N-COUNT]
An old flame is someone with whom you once had a romantic relationship.
Sue was seen dating an old flame...old girl (old girls)
[N-COUNT]
You can refer to a woman who used to be a pupil at a particular school or university as an old girl. (BRIT)
...the St Mary's Ascot Old Girls' Reunion Lunch.old guard
[N-SING-COLL] usu the/poss N
If you refer to a group of people as the old guard, you mean that they have worked in a particular organization for a very long time and are unwilling to accept new ideas or practices.
The old guard did not like the changes that Brewer introduced...old hand (old hands)
[N-COUNT] oft N at n
If someone is an old hand at something, they are very skilled at it because they have been doing it for a long time.
An old hand at photography, Tim has been shooting wildlife as a hobby for the last 13 years.
= veteran
≠ noviceold hat
see hatold lady
[N-SING] usu poss N
Some men refer to their wife, girlfriend, or mother as their old lady. (INFORMAL)
He had met his old lady when he was a house painter and she was a waitress.old maid (old maids)
[N-COUNT]
People sometimes refer to an old or middle-aged woman as an old maid when she has never married and they think that it is unlikely that she ever will marry. This use could cause offence.
Alex is too young to be already thinking of herself as an old maid.
= spinsterold man
[N-SING] the/poss N
Some people refer to their father, husband, or boyfriend as their old man. (INFORMAL)
Her old man left her a few million when he died...old mas|ter (old masters)
[N-COUNT]
An old master is a painting by one of the famous European painters of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. These painters can also be referred to as the Old Masters.
...his collection of old masters and modern art.
...portraits by Gainsborough, Rubens and other Old Masters.old wives' tale (old wives' tales)
[N-COUNT]
An old wives' tale is a traditional belief, especially one which is incorrect.
Ann Bradley dispels the old wives' tales and gives the medical facts.old wom|an (old women)
[N-COUNT]
If you refer to someone, especially a man, as an old woman, you are critical of them because you think they are too anxious about things. (INFORMAL)
1 [ADJ]
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
[N-PLURAL] the N
The old are people who are old.
...providing a caring response for the needs of the old and the handicapped.
2 [ADJ] amount ADJ, how ADJ, as ADJ as, ADJ-compar than
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.
3 [ADJ]
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
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
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
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
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...
6 [ADJ] poss ADJ n
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.
7 [ADJ] ADJ n
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.
8 [ADJ] ADJ n
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.
9 [PHRASE] PHR n
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.
10 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
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.
11 [PHRASE]
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.
12
good old: see good
to settle an old score: see score
up to one's old tricks: see trickold age
[N-UNCOUNT] oft poss N
Your old age is the period of years towards the end of your life.
They worry about how they will support themselves in their old age...
≠ youthold age pen|sion (old age pensions)
also old-age pension
[N-COUNT]
An old age pension is a regular amount of money that people receive from the government when they have retired from work. (BRIT; in AM, use social security benefit, social security payment)old age pen|sion|er (old age pensioners)
also old-age pensioner
[N-COUNT]
An old age pensioner is a person who is old enough to receive an pension from their employer or the government. (BRIT)
= OAPold bat (old bats)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
If someone refers to an old person, especially an old woman, as an old bat, they think that person is silly, annoying, or unpleasant. (INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE)old boy (old boys)
[N-COUNT]
You can refer to a man who used to be a pupil at a particular school or university as an old boy. (BRIT)
...Eton College, with all its traditions and long list of famous old boys.old flame (old flames)
[N-COUNT]
An old flame is someone with whom you once had a romantic relationship.
Sue was seen dating an old flame...old girl (old girls)
[N-COUNT]
You can refer to a woman who used to be a pupil at a particular school or university as an old girl. (BRIT)
...the St Mary's Ascot Old Girls' Reunion Lunch.old guard
[N-SING-COLL] usu the/poss N
If you refer to a group of people as the old guard, you mean that they have worked in a particular organization for a very long time and are unwilling to accept new ideas or practices.
The old guard did not like the changes that Brewer introduced...old hand (old hands)
[N-COUNT] oft N at n
If someone is an old hand at something, they are very skilled at it because they have been doing it for a long time.
An old hand at photography, Tim has been shooting wildlife as a hobby for the last 13 years.
= veteran
≠ noviceold hat
see hatold lady
[N-SING] usu poss N
Some men refer to their wife, girlfriend, or mother as their old lady. (INFORMAL)
He had met his old lady when he was a house painter and she was a waitress.old maid (old maids)
[N-COUNT]
People sometimes refer to an old or middle-aged woman as an old maid when she has never married and they think that it is unlikely that she ever will marry. This use could cause offence.
Alex is too young to be already thinking of herself as an old maid.
= spinsterold man
[N-SING] the/poss N
Some people refer to their father, husband, or boyfriend as their old man. (INFORMAL)
Her old man left her a few million when he died...old mas|ter (old masters)
[N-COUNT]
An old master is a painting by one of the famous European painters of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. These painters can also be referred to as the Old Masters.
...his collection of old masters and modern art.
...portraits by Gainsborough, Rubens and other Old Masters.old wives' tale (old wives' tales)
[N-COUNT]
An old wives' tale is a traditional belief, especially one which is incorrect.
Ann Bradley dispels the old wives' tales and gives the medical facts.old wom|an (old women)
[N-COUNT]
If you refer to someone, especially a man, as an old woman, you are critical of them because you think they are too anxious about things. (INFORMAL)