senescence
/sɪˈnɛ.səns/ noun
Forms senescences
- noun (biology) The state or process of ageing, especially in humans; old age.
- noun (cytology) Ceasing to divide by mitosis because of shortening of telomeres or excessive DNA damage.
- noun (gerontology) Old age; accumulated damage to macromolecules, cells, tissues and organs with the passage of time.
- noun (botany) Fruit senescence, leading to ripening of fruit.
- noun (cytology, of a cell) Condition when the cell ceases to divide.
Synonyms
oldhood senectitude vetustity age chair days codgerhood eld elderliness fogeydom geezerdom golden years old age superannuation twilight years sunset years aging ageing agedness
Etymology
From senescent + -ence.
Webster’s 1913
Etymology [See Senescent.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “senescence”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details