young
(yŭng)adj. young·er,
young·est 1. Being in an early period of life, development, or growth.
2. Newly begun or formed; not advanced: a young biotech company.
3. Relating to, typical of, or suggestive of youth or early life: He is young for his age.
4. Lacking experience; immature: a young hand at plowing.
5. Being the junior of two people having the same name.
6. Geology Being of an early stage in a geologic cycle. Used of bodies of water and land formations.
n.1. Young persons considered as a group; youth: entertainment for the young.
2. Offspring; brood: a lioness with her young.
Idiom: with young Pregnant. Used of an animal.
young′ness n.
Synonyms: young, youthful, adolescent, immature, juvenile, childish, puerile, infantile
These adjectives relate to an early stage of growth or development and to its accompanying characteristics. Young is the most general, applying to various periods of life, generally before middle age, as well as to inanimate entities: a young child; a young couple; a young galaxy.
It can suggest a youthful attitude or outlook regardless of chronological age: young at heart.
Youthful suggests the positive characteristics, such as enthusiasm, freshness, or energy, that are traditionally associated with youth: approached the task with youthful ardor.
Adolescent connotes the physical and especially mental or emotional characteristics of those between childhood and maturity; it is generally not disparaging except when used of an adult: adolescent insecurity; an adolescent outburst from the trial lawyer.
Immature is more clearly judgmental, implying that someone falls short of an expected level of mental or emotional development for his or her age: an emotionally immature adult.
Juvenile suggests the immaturity usually associated with adolescents, but it can convey an attitude of tolerance as well as criticism: the juvenile pranks of the conventioneers.
Childish is similar to juvenile but with a younger frame of reference, often suggesting selfishness, stubbornness, or lack of restraint: a committee member with a childish need to have the last word.
However, it can also suggest such positive qualities of children as innocence and wholeheartedness: took childish delight in tending his garden.
Puerile and infantile are used derogatorily to suggest extreme immaturity, especially with regard to social manners: a puerile joke; an infantile boast.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
young
(jʌŋ) adj,
younger (
ˈjʌŋɡə)
or youngest (
ˈjʌŋɡɪst)
1. a. having lived, existed, or been made or known for a relatively short time: a young man; a young movement; a young country.
b. (as collective noun; preceded by the): the young.
2. youthful or having qualities associated with youth; vigorous or lively: she's very young for her age.
3. of or relating to youth: in my young days.
4. having been established or introduced for a relatively short time: a young member.
5. in an early stage of progress or development; not far advanced: the day was young.
6. (Physical Geography)
geography a. (of mountains) formed in the Alpine orogeny and still usually rugged in outline
7. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (often capital) of or relating to a rejuvenated group or movement or one claiming to represent the younger members of the population, esp one adhering to a political ideology: Young England; Young Socialists.
n8. (Biology) (functioning as plural) offspring, esp young animals: a rabbit with her young.
9. (Biology) with young (of animals) pregnant
[Old English geong; related to Old Saxon, Old High German iung, Old Norse ungr, Latin iuvenis, Sanskrit yuvan]
ˈyoungish adj
Young
(jʌŋ) n1. (Biography) Brigham (ˈbrɪɡəm). 1801–77, US Mormon leader, who led the Mormon migration to Utah and founded Salt Lake City (1847)
2. (Biography) Edward. 1683–1765, English poet and dramatist, noted for his Night Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality (1742–45)
3. (Biography) Lester. 1909–59, US saxophonist and clarinettist. He was a leading early exponent of the tenor saxophone in jazz
4. (Biography) Neil (Percival). born 1945, Canadian rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His albums include Harvest (1972), Rust Never Sleeps (1979), Ragged Glory (1990), and Prairie Wind (2005)
5. (Biography) Thomas. 1773–1829, English physicist, physician, and Egyptologist. He helped to establish the wave theory of light by his experiments on optical interference and assisted in the decipherment of the Rosetta Stone
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
young
(yʌŋ)
adj. young•er (ˈyʌŋ gər)
young•est (ˈyʌŋ gɪst)
n. adj. 1. being in the first or early stage of life or growth.
2. having the appearance, vigor, or other qualities of youth.
3. of or pertaining to youth.
4. not far advanced in years or experience in comparison with others.
5. junior: the young Mr. Smith.
6. being in an early stage, as of existence, development, or maturity: a young wine.
7. representing or advocating recent or progressive tendencies, policies, or the like.
n. 8. young persons collectively.
9. young offspring: a mother hen protecting her young.
Idioms: with young, (of an animal) pregnant.
[before 900; Middle English yong(e), Old English geong, c. Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Old High German jung, Old Norse ungr, Gothic juggs; akin to Latin juvenis]
young′ish, adj.
Young
(yʌŋ)
n. 1. Brigham, 1801–77, U.S. leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
2. Edward, 1683–1765, English poet.
3. Marguerite (Vivian), born 1909, U.S. novelist and poet.
4. Thomas, 1773–1829, English physician, physicist, and Egyptologist.
5. Whitney M., Jr., 1921–71, U.S. social reformer and educator.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.