senescence

Meanings

Plural: senescences

Noun

• the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age
• the property characteristic of old age
• The state or process of ageing, especially in humans; old age.
• Ceasing to divide by mitosis because of shortening of telomeres or excessive DNA damage.
• Old age; accumulated damage to macromolecules, cells, tissues and organs with the passage of time.
• Fruit senescence, leading to ripening of fruit.
• Condition when the cell ceases to divide.

Synonyms

age, agedness, ageing, aging, chair days, codgerhood, eld, elderliness, fogeydom, geezerdom, golden years, old age, oldhood, senectitude, senescence, sunset years, twilight years, vetustity

Related Words

biological immortality, quiescence, senesce, senescent, senility