senescent

[ si-nes-uhnt ]

/ sɪˈnɛs ənt /

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See synonyms for: senescent / senescence on Thesaurus.com

adjective

growing old; aging.

Cell Biology. (of a cell) no longer capable of dividing but still alive and metabolically active.

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Origin of senescent

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin senēscent- (stem of senēscēns ) present participle of senēscere “to grow old,” equivalent to sen- “old” + -ēscent- -escent

OTHER WORDS FROM senescent

se·nes·cence, nounun·se·nes·cent, adjective

Words nearby senescent

senega, Senegal, Senegalese, Senegambia, Senegambia Confederation, senescent, seneschal, Senghor, sengi, senhor, senhora

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use senescent in a sentence

One was zapped with radiation, another tweaked to become cancerous, and a third that turned into “zombie” senescent cells.
What’s Your Biological Age? A New ‘Aging Clock’ Has the Answer|Shelly Fan|May 24, 2022|Singularity Hub
Even worse, some cells give up completely and turn into senescent “zombie cells”—they don’t die, but don’t perform normal functions, instead spewing out toxic immune chemicals.
What’s Your Biological Age? A New ‘Aging Clock’ Has the Answer|Shelly Fan|May 24, 2022|Singularity Hub
Others may turn a cell cancerous or senescent, leaking toxic chemicals and endangering nearby cells.
This Algorithm Designs Proteins From Scratch to Accelerate Drug Discovery|Shelly Fan|March 24, 2022|Singularity Hub
The gardener slammed the door of the senescent truck with vehement lack of affection.
Greener Than You Think|Ward Moore

Has it not sometimes occurred to you that it is only in the senescent epoch of a nations life that love disappears?
The Life and Letters of Lafcadio Hearn, Volume 1|Elizabeth Bisland
By that sort of piety to which senescent female sinners everywhere and at all times devote themselves she secured new friends.
Lucretia Borgia|Ferdinand Gregorovius
That senescent October moon which a year ago marked the end of love's halcyon would have been a suitable light for such a party.
Carnival|Compton Mackenzie
A senescent city; mostly antiquated Spanish architecture,—ponderous archways and earthquake-proof walls.
Two Years in the French West Indies|Lafcadio Hearn

British Dictionary definitions for senescent

senescent

/ (sɪˈnɛsənt) /

adjective

growing old

characteristic of old age

Derived forms of senescent

senescence, noun

Word Origin for senescent

C17: from Latin senēscere to grow old, from senex old

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

senescent

Origin of senescent

OTHER WORDS FROM senescent

Words nearby senescent

Words related to senescent

How to use senescent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for senescent

Derived forms of senescent

Word Origin for senescent