elderly

eld·er·ly

E0069000 (ĕl′dər-lē)adj.1. Being past middle age and approaching old age; rather old.2. Of, relating to, or characteristic of older persons or life in later years.n.1. pl. eld·er·lies An elderly person.2. pl. elderly (used with a pl. verb) Older people considered as a group. Often used with the: special recreational programs for the elderly.

---

el′der·li·ness n.Usage Note: Elderly applies to the stage of life well past middle age. When used as a noun in referring to older persons in general, it is relatively neutral, denoting a group of people whose common characteristic is advanced age: policy issues of special interest to the elderly. However, when used as an adjective in describing a particular person, elderly has a range of connotations that go beyond the denotation of chronological age. On the one hand it can suggest dignity, and its somewhat formal tone may express respect: sat next to an elderly gentleman at the concert. On the other hand it can imply frailty or diminished capacity, in which case it may sound condescending: was stuck in traffic behind an elderly driver. Regardless of other connotations, a phrase such as the elderly couple in the second row suggests greater age than if the couple were described as older. See Usage Note at senior.

elderly

(ˈɛldəlɪ) (of people) adja. quite old; past middle ageb. (as collective noun; preceded by the): the elderly. geriatric ˈelderliness nUsage: Referring to any group using the formula the elderly, the disabled is nowadays felt to be inappropriate because it glosses over people's individuality and perpetuates stereotypes. It is preferable to use phrases such as disabled people and so forth. Many people also prefer to talk about older rather than elderly people for similar reasons

eld•er•ly

(ˈɛl dər li)

adj. 1. approaching old age. 2. of or pertaining to persons in later life. n. 3. the elderly, elderly persons collectively. [1605–15] eld′er•li•ness, n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	elderly - people who are old collectively; "special arrangements were available for the aged"agedage bracket, age group, cohort - a group of people having approximately the same age
Adj.	1.	elderly - advanced in years; (`aged' is pronounced as two syllables); "aged members of the society"; "elderly residents could remember the construction of the first skyscraper"; "senior citizen"aged, older, seniorold - (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age; "his mother is very old"; "a ripe old age"; "how old are you?"

elderly

adjective1. old, aged, ageing, ancient, mature, past it, venerable, patriarchal, grey-haired, geriatric (derogatory), getting on, over the hill (informal), grizzled, decrepit, hoary, superannuated, long in the tooth (informal), grey, doddery, senescent, advanced in years, full of years, past your prime There was an elderly couple on the terrace.plural noun1. old people, pensioners, senior citizens, geriatrics (derogatory), OAPs, retired people, old age pensioners, wrinklies (informal, derogatory) The elderly are a formidable force in any election.Related words
adjective geriatric

elderly

adjectiveFar along in life or time:advanced, aged, old, senior.Idiom: getting along in years.

Translations

上了年纪的年过中年的

elder¹

(ˈeldə) adjective (often of members of a family) older; senior. He has three elder sisters; He is the elder of the two. 年齡較大的；年長的 年龄较大的，年长的 noun1. a person who is older. Take the advice of your elders. 年齡較大者；長者 年龄较大者，长者 2. an office-bearer in Presbyterian churches. (基督教長老會的)長老 （教会的）长老 ˈelderly adjective (rather) old. an elderly lady. 上了年紀的 上了年纪的ˈeldest adjective oldest. She is the eldest of the three children. 最年長的 最年长的the elderly people who are (rather) old. It is important for the elderly to take some exercise. 上了年紀的人 上了年纪的人

elderly

→ 年过中年的zhCN