Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - elder

~1 adj 1 elder brother/daughter/sister etc only before noun a brother etc who is older than other brothers etc  (My elder brother looks nothing like me.)  (- see old) 2 the elder a) the older one of two people  (Sarah is the elder of the two.) b) used after someone's name to show that they are the older of two people with the same name, usually a father and son  (Pitt the elder)  (- compare younger) ~2 n 1 a member of a tribe or other social group who is important and respected because they are old  (a meeting of the village elders) 2 someone who has an official position of responsibility in some Christian churches 3 a small wild tree with white flowers and black berries 4 your elders (and betters) people who are older than you and who you should respect