Old Definition

ōld

older, oldest, olds, eldest

adjective

older, oldest, eldest

Having lived or existed for a relatively long time; far advanced in years or life.

American Heritage

Of, like, or characteristic of aged people; specif., mature in judgment, wise, etc.

Webster's New World

Relatively advanced in age.

Pamela is our oldest child.

American Heritage

Made or produced some time ago; not new.

Webster's New World

Of a certain or specified age or duration.

A child ten years old.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

olds

A person of a specified age.

A six-year-old.

Webster's New World

Time long past; yore.

Days of old.

Webster's New World

Old people.

Webster's New World

Something old.

Webster's New World

People who are old; old beings; the older generation; usually used with the.

A civilised society should always look after the old in the community.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

verb

Eye dialect spelling of hold.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
senesce

Other Word Forms of Old

Adjective

Base Form:

old

Comparative:

older

Superlative:

eldest

Origin of Old

From Middle English old, ald, from Old English ald, eald (“old, aged, ancient, antique, primeval"), from Proto-Germanic *aldaz (“grown-up"), originally a participle form from Proto-Indo-European *altós (“grown, tall, big"). Cognate with Scots auld (“old"), North Frisian ool, ual, uul (“old"), Saterland Frisian oold (“old"), West Frisian âld (“old"), Dutch oud (“old"), Low German old (“old"), German alt (“old"), Swedish äldre (“older, elder"), Icelandic eldri (“older, elder"), Latin altus (“high, tall, grown big, lofty"). Related to eld.

From Wiktionary
A representation of the pronunciation of hold by a speaker whose dialect lacks the voiceless glottal fricative or transition (IPA: [h]).

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old English eald al-² in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition