Definition of "elder"

elder¹

/ˈeldə/

adjective
1. comparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority.
  Quotations
  She removed Stranleigh’s coat with a dexterity that aroused his imagination. The elder woman returned with dressings and a sponge, which she placed on a chair.
  1913, Robert Barr, chapter 5, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad‎
noun
plural elders
1. A leader of a community, someone of great age or seniority.
  Quotations
  I probably wouldn't be here talking about this very topic if it weren't for the few but mighty elders in the tech and gender rights spaces. Folks like South Africa-based Jan Moolman from the Association for Progressive Communications […]
  2022 August 25, Seyi Akiwowo, How to Stay Safe Online: A digital self-care toolkit for developing resilience and allyship, Penguin UK
2. (now chiefly US) An old person.
3. (Should we delete(+) this sense?) One who is older than another.
4. One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
  Quotations
  Carry your Head […] as your Elders have done.
  1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […]
5. An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities.
6. A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments.
7. (Canada) An older Indigenous person respected as an authority figure, especially when in a counselling, consultative, or ceremonial role.
8. (US, Mormonism) One ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood.
9. (US, Mormonism) Male missionary.
10. (Mormonism, often capitalized) Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority.
11. (Germanic paganism) A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess.
verb
third-person singular simple present elders, present participle eldering, simple past and past participle eldered
1. (Quakerism) To admonish or reprove for improper conduct by the elders of the meeting.

elder²

/ˈeldə/

noun
plural elders
1. A small tree, Sambucus nigra, having white flowers in a cluster, and edible purple berries.
  Quotations
  Have a tree or two the witches particularly like, such as the alder, larch, cypress and hemlock; then, to counteract any possible evil effects, there must be a holly, yew, hazel, elder, mountain ash or juniper.
  1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson, Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page 273
2. Any of the other species of the genus Sambucus: small trees, shrubs or herbaceous perennials with red, purple, or white/yellow berries (some of which are poisonous).

elder³

/ˈeldə/

noun
1. A cow's udder, especially used as food.

Definition of "elder"

elder1

adjective

Quotations

noun

Quotations

Quotations

verb

elder2

noun

Quotations

elder3

noun

elder¹

elder²

elder³