senescent

IPA/sɪˈnesnt/
IPA/sɪˈnesnt/

senescent — adjective

  • senescentpositive
  • more senescentcomparative
  • most senescentsuperlative

1. having reached an old stage where a living thing, body part, or system is starti

1.形容詞C2
釋義

having reached an old stage where a living thing, body part, or system is starting to weaken and work less effectively.

例句

By late summer, the senescent leaves on the vine had turned yellow and thin.

senescent + plant part in biology writing

Doctors found senescent cells in the damaged skin around the burn.

senescent cells — common medical context

同義詞
  • aging

    broader and more neutral; does not always suggest clear decline yet

  • elderly

    used mainly for people and sounds less technical

  • decrepit

    much stronger and more negative, suggesting severe weakness or damage

反義詞
  • young

    opposite in age stage

  • vigorous

    emphasizes strong healthy function rather than age alone

文法句型

be senescent

senescent + noun

用法筆記

Mostly used in formal, medical, or biological writing. It often describes cells, tissues, leaves, or systems when age is already causing weaker performance, not just greater age.

常見錯誤

❌My senescent laptop needs a new battery.
✅My old laptop needs a new battery.
💡senescent is mainly a formal word for living things, tissues, or systems affected by aging, not everyday objects.
❌My senescent uncle still runs every day.
✅My elderly uncle still runs every day.
💡senescent sounds clinical and stresses decline from age, while elderly is the neutral everyday choice for a person.