- 1elders [plural] people of greater age, experience, and authority Children have no respect for their elders nowadays. the village elders (= the old and respected people of the village) Traditions were passed on by the elders of the tribe.
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- 2my, etc. elder [singular] (formal) a person older than you, etc. He is her elder by several years.
- 3[countable] an official in some Christian churches
- 4[countable] a small tree with white flowers with a sweet smell (elderflowers) and bunches of small black berries (elderberries)
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