elder

9 definitions • 12 examples

an older person, especially one with a respected position in society:

You should listen to the advice of your elders.

village elder They consulted the village elders.

someone’s elder by formal She is my elder by three years (= three years older than I am).

an official of a religious group:

church elder One of the church elders visited her in hospital.

a small tree or bush on which elderflowers and elderberries grow:

The sweetly scented, creamy-white flowers of the elder appear in abundance at the beginning of summer.

Hawthorn and blackthorn buds are bursting and elder trees are coming into leaf.

a sister/brother/son/daughter who is older than the other sister(s), brother(s), etc.:

Her parents and elder sister stayed behind in Poland when she came to America.

the older person of two people:

Of the two brothers Harvey is the elder.

He was the elder by five years.

used after someone's name to show that they are the older of two people who have the same name, especially a father and son:

William Pitt the elder

an older person, esp. one who deserves respect:

You should listen to your elders.

An elder is also an official in particular religious groups.

(of a family member) older:

an elder brother/sister