age

¹age

noun \ˈāj\

Definition of AGE

1

a : the time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises or rests <the voting age is 18>; specifically : majority b : one of the stages of life c : the length of an existence extending from the beginning to any given time <a boy 10 years of age> d : lifetime e : an advanced stage of life

2

: a period of time dominated by a central figure or prominent feature <the age of Pericles>: as a : a period in history or human progress <the age of reptiles> <the age of exploration> b : a cultural period marked by the prominence of a particular item <entering the atomic age> c : a division of geologic time that is usually shorter than an epoch

3

a : the period contemporary with a person's lifetime or with his or her active life b : a long time —usually used in plural <haven't seen him in ages> c : generation

4

: an individual's development measured in terms of the years requisite for like development of an average individual

Examples of AGE

1. Some people are reluctant to reveal their ages.
2. She died tragically at a young age.
3. The treatment depends on the sex and age of the patient.
4. She died at the ripe old age of 90.
5. The movie appeals to people of all ages.
6. Their son needs to spend more time with children his own age.
7. a group of children ranging in age from 8 to 11
8. She became involved with a man twice her age.
9. The program is for people over age 50.
10. groups of people classified by race and age

Origin of AGE

Middle English, from Anglo-French aage, age, from Vulgar Latin *aetaticum, from Latin aetat-, aetas, from aevum lifetime — more at aye

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to AGE

Synonyms: day, epoch, era, period, time

Antonyms: springtime

Related Words: cycle, generation, year; bit, space, span, spell, stretch, while; date, vintage

Near Antonyms: flash, instant, jiffy, minute, moment, second, shake, split second, trice, twinkle, twinkling, wink; microsecond, nanosecond

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at period

Rhymes with AGE

cage, gage, Gage, gauge, mage, page, rage, sage, stage, swage, wage