Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - elder

(elders) 1. The elder of two people is the one who was born first. ...his elder brother. ...the elder of her two daughters. ADJ: ADJ n, the ADJ, the ADJ of n 2. A person’s elder is someone who is older than them, especially someone quite a lot older. (FORMAL) The young have no respect for their elders. N-COUNT: poss N 3. In some societies, an elder is one of the respected older people who have influence and authority. ...tribal elders. N-COUNT 4. An elder is a bush or small tree which has groups of small white flowers and black berries. N-COUNT