senesce
/sɪˈnɛs/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To grow old and begin to lose strength or function. It is used mainly in biology, medicine, and formal writing.
- The plant began to senesce after flowering.
- Cells senesce as the body ages.
- Leaves senesce before they fall.
Adinary Nuance
Senesce is more technical than age or grow old. Writers use it for living things, especially cells, tissues, and plants, not for everyday life. It sounds scientific and precise, so it fits academic or medical writing better than normal conversation.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- lão hóa
- Spanish
- envejecer
- Chinese
- 衰老
- Japanese
- 老化する
- Korean
- 노화하다
Etymology
Senesce comes from Latin senescere, meaning "to grow old." It entered English through scientific and formal writing.
Common phrases
cell senescenceleaf senescencesenesce naturally
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is senesce a common everyday word?
- No. It is mainly used in science, medicine, and formal writing.
- What is the difference between senesce and age?
- Age is common and general. Senesce is more scientific and often refers to cells or plants.
- Can I use senesce for people?
- Usually not in normal speech. It sounds technical and is more common for biological things.