Meaning of age In English

• 0 the period of time someone has been alive or something has existed:

  • Do you know the age of that building?

  • What age (= how old) is your brother?

  • I'd guess she's about my age (= she is about as old as I am).

  • She was 74 years of age when she wrote her first novel.

  • He left home at the age of 16.

  • I was married with four children at your age.

  • She's starting to show/look her age (= to look as old as she is).

  • I'm really beginning to feel my age (= feel old).

  • His girlfriend's twice his age (= twice as old as he is).

• 1 a particular period in time:

  • the Victorian age

  • the modern age

  • the nuclear age

• 2 a very long time:

  • It takes ages to cook.

  • I've been waiting for ages.

  • It's been ages/an age since we last spoke.

• 3 the fact of being or getting older:

  • Her back was bent with age.

  • This cheese/wine improves with age.

  • Her temper hasn't improved with age!

• 4 If someone ages or something ages them, they look older:

  • She's aged since the last time we met.

  • The brandy is aged in oak for ten years.

• 5 used to form nouns that refer to the action or result of something:

  • blockage

  • shrinkage

  • wastage

  • All breakages must be paid for.

• 6 used to form nouns that refer to a state or condition:

  • bondage

  • marriage

  • shortage

• 7 used to form nouns that are names of places:

  • orphanage

  • vicarage

• 8 the length of time someone has been alive or something has existed:

  • [ C ] At age 24 he won a starring role in his first movie.

  • [ U ] She was 74 years of age when she wrote her first novel.

  • The program is aimed at viewers in the 18-to-30 age group.

• 9 a particular period in time:

  • the modern/industrial/Victorian age

• 10 to become or appear old, or to cause someone to appear old:

  • [ I ] She’s aged a lot since the last time we met.

  • [ T ] The cheese is aged for three to six months.