- old
- old [ ould ] adjective ***▸ 1 for talking about age▸ 2 having lived a long time▸ 3 not new▸ 4 that existed in the past▸ 5 for showing you like someone▸ + PHRASES1. ) 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?old enough to do something: He's not old enough to see this movie.too old to do something: Aren't you too old to play with dolls?a ) 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.b ) 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.c ) 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. ) someone who is old has lived a long time:A lot of old people live alone.get/grow old: I hope I'll still be able to play golf when I get old.a ) 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.Trees are the oldest living things on the planet.a ) only before noun used in a negative way about something that is not useful or in good condition any more: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.c ) 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.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the past:Thy is an old way of saying your.Look at all these old machines!a ) used for referring to something that has been replaced by a newer thing of the same type:The old highway to Salinas only had two lanes.b ) used with the names of cities and countries, for referring to the oldest part or to the way it was in the past:a tour of Warsaw's picturesque Old Townc ) 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 Englishd ) 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.5. ) INFORMAL used for showing that you like someone and care about them:How is my old buddy Jim?dear old: Dear old Emily, what would we do without her?a ) poor old INFORMAL used for showing sympathy toward someone:Poor old Diane, she really wanted that job.(as) old as the hills SPOKENextremely old:I like your dress. Really? It's as old as the hills.for old times' sakeso that you can remember a happy time in the past:Let's go back to Boston, for old times' sake.of old MAINLY LITERARYused for describing people and things from long ago in the past:He was like a knight of old.old enough to be someone's mother/fathermuch older than a particular person. This phrase is usually used for talking about two people who are having a romantic relationship.your old selfthe way you normally were in the past, before something happened:Now you're talking like your old self again!=> GOOD1, ANY
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.