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to senesce

to senesce

9.9
To grow old over time
  • verb
  • /səˈnɛs/
  • Formal
translation icon : envejecer
  • Artificially elongating their telomeres will preserve these cells' 'normalcy,' so they will not senesce.

Examples

  • Plants in the garden will senesce as autumn approaches, with leaves changing color and falling off.

  • So let me outline why are why civilizations senesce in the same sense that a biological Organism does.

  • Embryo development progresses rapidly and continuously to the formation of initial leaves and roots of the sporophyte, during which time the gametophyte gradually senesces and dies.

    Academic text (1998)
  • As the years passed, he began to senesce, noticing his hair turning gray and his energy declining.

  • After decades of growth, the old oak tree started to senesce, its branches becoming brittle and its bark rough.

Synonyms

to age
vsto senesce
130 1.0

To become or make something older

refers to naturally becoming older not causing or showing signs
to get on
vsto senesce
29 3.9

Become older as time passes

emphasizes the ongoing biological process of aging
to maturate
vsto senesce
9.9

To grow older over time

has the same meaning but is the more common general term

Antonyms

164 1.0

The time between childhood and adulthood when someone is young

12 5.3

A new start when life and energy return to someone or somewhere

How Aged

to senesce
  • Formal
9.9
to age
130 1.0

Surface Forms

senesce infinitive
senesced past
senesced past participle
senescing present participle
senesces third person singular

Etymology

Senesce comes from the Latin root sen- meaning 'old', the same root as in senior. It means 'to grow old', so when cells or people senesce they go through the process of aging.