o ld la dy N‑SING [usu poss N ] Some men refer to their wife, girlfriend, or mother as their old lady . [INFORMAL ] □ He had met his old lady when he was a house painter and she was a waitress.
o ld mai d (old maids ) N‑COUNT People sometimes refer to an old or middle-aged woman as an old maid when she has never married and they think that it is unlikely that she ever will marry. This use could cause offence. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Alex is too young to be already thinking of herself as an old maid.
o ld ma n N‑SING Some people refer to their father, husband, or boyfriend as their old man . [INFORMAL ] □ Her old man left her a few million when he died.
o ld ma s|ter (old masters ) N‑COUNT An old master is a painting by one of the famous European painters of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. These painters can also be referred to as the Old Masters . □ …his collection of old masters and modern art. □ …portraits by Gainsborough, Rubens and other Old Masters.
o ld peo|ple's ho me (old people's homes ) N‑COUNT An old people's home is a place where old people live and are cared for when they are too old to look after themselves. [mainly BRIT ]
o ld school tie N‑SING When people talk about the old school tie , they are referring to the situation in which people who attended the same public school use their positions of influence to help each other. [BRIT ] □ Of course, the old school tie has been a help.
o ld-style ADJ [ADJ n] You use old-style to describe something or someone of a type that was common or popular in the past but is not common or popular now. □ …a proper barber shop with real old-style barber chairs.
O ld Te s|ta|ment N‑PROPER The Old Testament is the first part of the Bible. It deals especially with the relationship between God and the Jewish people.
o ld-time ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe something as old-time , you mean that it was common or popular in the past but is not common or popular now. □ …an old-time dance hall which still has a tea dance on Monday afternoons.
o ld-timer (old-timers )
1 N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as an old-timer , you mean that he or she has been living in a particular place or doing a particular job for a long time. [INFORMAL ] □ The old-timers and established families clutched the reins of power.
2 N‑COUNT An old man is sometimes referred to as an old-timer . [AM , INFORMAL ]
o ld wi ves' tale (old wives' tales ) N‑COUNT An old wives' tale is a traditional belief, especially one which is incorrect. □ Ann Bradley dispels the old wives' tales and gives the medical facts.
o ld wo m|an (old women ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone, especially a man, as an old woman , you are critical of them because you think they are too anxious about things. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
ole /oʊ l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Ole is used in written English to represent the word 'old' pronounced in a particular way. □ 'I started fixin' up ole bicycles fer poor kids.'
olean|der /oʊ liæ ndə r / (oleanders ) N‑VAR An oleander is an evergreen tree or shrub that has white, pink, or purple flowers. Oleanders grow in Mediterranean countries and in some parts of Asia and Australia.
ol|fac|tory /ɒlfæ ktəri/ ADJ [ADJ n] Olfactory means concerned with the sense of smell. [FORMAL ] □ This olfactory sense develops in the womb.
oli|gar|chy /ɒ l I gɑː r ki/ (oligarchies )
1 N‑COUNT An oligarchy is a small group of people who control and run a particular country or organization. You can also refer to a country which is governed in this way as an oligarchy .
2 N‑UNCOUNT Oligarchy is a situation in which a country or organization is run by an oligarchy. □ …a protest against imperialism and oligarchy in the region.
ol|ive /ɒ l I v/ (olives )
1 N‑VAR Olives are small green or black fruit with a bitter taste. Olives are often pressed to make olive oil.
2 N‑VAR An olive or an olive tree is a tree on which olives grow. □ …an olive grove.
3 COLOUR Something that is olive is yellowish-green in colour. □ …glowing colours such as deep red, olive, saffron and ochre. ● ADJ Olive is also a combining form. □ She wore an olive-green T-shirt.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone has olive skin, the colour of their skin is light brown. □ They are handsome with dark, shining hair, olive skin and fine brown eyes.
o l|ive branch (olive branches ) also olive-branch N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you offer an olive branch to someone, you say or do something in order to show that you want to end a disagreement or quarrel. □ Clarke also offered an olive branch to critics in his party.
o l|ive oil (olive oils ) N‑VAR Olive oil is oil that is obtained by pressing olives. It is used for putting on salads or in cooking.
SUFFIX -ological
is used to replace -ology at the end of nouns in order to form adjectives that describe something as relating to a particular science or subject. For example, biological systems relate to biology.
SUFFIX -ologist
is used to replace -ology at the end of nouns in order to form other nouns that refer to people who are concerned with a particular science or subject. For example, a biologist is someone who studies biology.
SUFFIX -ology
is used at the end of some nouns that refer to a particular science or subject. For example, geology or sociology .
Olym|pian /əl I mpiən/ (Olympians )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Olympian means very powerful, large, or impressive. [FORMAL ] □ Getting his book into print has been an Olympian task in itself.