young

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective (younger ) 1 having lived or existed for only a short time; not fully developed: young babies / children / animals * a young country / company * Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant. * a young wine * (humorous) The night is still young (= it has only just started). OPPOLD 2 not yet old; not as old as others: young people * talented young football players * I am the youngest of four sisters. * In his younger days he played rugby for Wales. * I met the young Bill Clinton at Oxford. * Her grandchildren keep her young. * My son's thirteen but he's young for his age (= not as developed as other boys of the same age). * They married young (= at an early age). * My mother died young. OPPOLD 3 suitable or appropriate for young people: young fashion / ideas * The clothes she wears are much too young for her. 4 consisting of young people or young children; with a low average age: They have a young family. * a young audience 5 ~ man / lady / woman used to show that you are angry or annoyed with a particular young person: I think you owe me an apology, young lady! 6 (the younger) used before or after a person's name to distinguish them from an older relative: the younger Kennedy * (BrE, formal) William Pitt the younger comparethe elder at ELDERadj., JUNIORadj.(3) IDIOMS be getting younger (spoken) used to say that people seem to be doing sth at a younger age than they used to, or that they seem younger because you are now older: The band's fans are getting younger. * Why do police officers seem to be getting younger? not be getting any younger (spoken) used when you are commenting that time is passing and that you, or sb else, is growing older young at heart thinking and behaving like a young person even when you are old: My father is 76 but he's still young at heart. moreatOLD, ONLYadv. noun [pl.] 1 (the young) young people considered as a group: It's a movie that will appeal to the young. * It's a book for young and old alike. 2 young animals of a particular type or that belong to a particular mother: a mother bird feeding her young