1. A person who is older than you are
   "He respected his elders and always listened to their advice";
   - senior, oldie [informal]
    
2. Any of various church officers
   "The church elders met to discuss the upcoming renovations"
    
3. Any of numerous shrubs or small trees of temperate and subtropical Northern Hemisphere having white flowers and berrylike fruit
   "The elder attracted many birds with its dark berries";
   - elderberry bush

1. Used of the older of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a father from his son
   "John Smith, elder, passed the family business to John Smith, younger";
   - older, sr.

Derived forms: elders

See also: senior

Type of: actor, bush, church officer, doer, shrub, worker

Part of: genus Sambucus, Sambucus

Encyclopedia: Elder, Mark