What does "aging" mean?

1. (getting older) the natural process of growing older as a person, animal, or plant. 2. (maturing of products) the process of letting food or drink, like cheese or wine, sit for a long time to improve its taste. 3. (making something look old) the act of making something new look old, like furniture or clothes. 4. (becoming elderly) getting older or appearing to be old.

aging

n. · adj.

US //ˈeɪdʒɪŋ// UK //ˈeɪdʒɪŋ// ag·ing

1 getting older (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the natural process of growing older as a person, animal, or plant.

the biological process of growing older, involving the accumulation of changes in a human, animal, or plant over time.

Example

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can help slow down the effects of aging.

Example

The research team is investigating how cellular aging contributes to the development of chronic diseases in the elderly population.
- maturation
- senescence
2 maturing of products (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

the process of letting food or drink, like cheese or wine, sit for a long time to improve its taste.

the deliberate storage of food or beverages under controlled conditions to develop desired flavours or textures.

Example

The aging of this cheddar cheese takes at least twelve months to get the best flavour.

Example

The distillery prides itself on a traditional aging process, using charred oak barrels to impart a distinct smoky character to the whiskey.
- maturing
- ripening

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3 making something look old (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical

the act of making something new look old, like furniture or clothes.

the intentional treatment of a surface or object to give it the appearance of age or wear.

Example

The set designer used special paint for the aging of the new wooden chairs.

Example

The restoration expert applied a specific chemical wash to achieve the subtle aging required to match the new panels with the original seventeenth-century woodwork.
- distressing
- weathering
4 becoming elderly (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

getting older or appearing to be old.

approaching old age or showing signs of being old; often used to describe a population or a piece of machinery.

Example

The city needs more services to support its aging population.

Example

The company is struggling to maintain its aging infrastructure, which has become increasingly prone to technical failures and high maintenance costs.
- youthful
- new

Origin

By surface analysis, age + -ing.