- of greater age; older.
- of higher rank; senior: an elder officer.
- of or relating to former times; earlier: Much that was forbidden by elder custom is accepted today.
- a person who is older or higher in rank than oneself.
- an aged person.
- an influential member of a tribe or community, often a chief or ruler; a superior.
- a presbyter.
- (in certain Protestant churches) a lay member who is a governing officer, often assisting the pastor in services.
- a member of the Melchizedek priesthood.
- any tree or shrub belonging to the genus Sambucus, of the honeysuckle family, having pinnate leaves, clusters of white flowers, and red or black, berrylike fruit.
- born earlier; senior
- (in piquet and similar card games) denoting or relating to the nondealer (the elder hand), who has certain advantages in the play
- archaic
- prior in rank, position, or office
- of a previous time; former
- an older person; one's senior
- a senior member of a tribe who has influence or authority
- (in certain Protestant Churches) a lay office having teaching, pastoral, or administrative functions
- another word for presbyter
- any of various caprifoliaceous shrubs or small trees of the genus Sambucus, having clusters of small white flowers and red, purple, or black berry-like fruits
- any of various unrelated plants, such as box elder and marsh elder
- Sir Mark Philip. born 1947, British conductor; musical director of the English National Opera (1979–93) and of the Hallé Orchestra from 2000
