1. C U 年龄，年纪　 the amount of time that sb/sth has been in the world
2. U 人生的一个阶段　 one of the periods of a person's life
3. U 老年，老　 being old
4. S 时代，时期　 a certain time in history

　act one's ～　举止与年龄相称
　ask sb's ～　问某人的年龄
　be of ～　成年
　carry one's ～ well　年老而精力旺盛
　come of ～　成年
　live to a great ～　活到高龄
　look one's ～　和年龄相称
　provide against ～　防老
　reach an ～ of　活到生命中的某一阶段
　take sb ～s　花某人很多时间
　adult ～　成年
　early ～　早年
　golden ～　黄金时代
　great ～　很大的年纪，高寿，高龄
　middle ～　中年
　old ～　高龄
　present ～　当代，现代
　ripe ～　成年
　the Dark A-　欧洲中世纪，黑暗时代
　the Middle A-　中世纪
　young ～　童年
　college ～　入大学年龄
　high-school ～　入中学年龄
　school ～　入学年龄
　preschool ～　学龄前时期
　the Ice A-　冰川时代
　the Iron A-　铁器时代
　the New Stone A-　新石器时代
　the Stone A-　石器时代
　an ～ ago　许久以前
　at an ～　在某一年龄
　during the ～　在…时代
　for an ～　很久以前
　for ～s　好久
　look young for one's ～　看上去比实际上年轻
　from ～ to ～　世世代代，一代一代（地）
　in all ～　历来，今昔，常常
　in an ～　在一个时代
　be of an ～　属于某一年龄的
　people of all ～　各种不同年龄的人
　be over ～　超过适龄年限
　through the ～s　历来，千秋万代
　be under ～　未达适龄年限
　～ of 80 　80岁

　It was difficult to tell his exact age.　很难说出他的确切年龄。
　At your age you should know better.　你这个年龄，应该懂点事了。
　They married at a late age.　他们年龄很大时才结婚。
　He became a doctor at the age of 27.　他27岁时成了一名医生。
　He looks young for his age.　他看上去比他的实际岁数小。
　Age was telling on him.　他显得衰老了。
　I am more than sixty. but I don't feel my age.　我已经60多岁了，但我并未觉得自己这么老。
　I haven't seen you for aɡes.　我好久没见到你了。
　The two boys are (of) the same age.　这两个男孩同龄。
　It's been ages since we met.　我们好久不见了。
　They took ages to mend the bike.　他们花了很长时间才把自行车修好。
　You are quite behind the age.　你远远地落后时代了。
　We are living in the computer age.　我们正生活在计算机时代。
　Those animals lived in the Middle Ages.　那些动物生活在中世纪。

 ♣ be〔come〕 of age
　到了成年　reach the age at which one has an adult's legal rights and obligations
　The boy has been of age.　这男孩已经长大成人了。
　He will come of age a week from today.　他再过一个星期就达到成年年龄了。
 ♣ under age
　未成年　not yet adult
　You shouldn't sell cigarettes to teenagers who are under age.　你不应该把香烟卖给未成年的青少年。
　He was rejected by the conscription office because he was under age.　征兵办公室没有接受他，因为他还未成年。

 ♣ old age, advanced age
　这两个短语都可表示“老年”，但前面使用的介词不同。例如：

 ♣ of age, of an age, of the age
　这三个短语的意思并不相同。of age的意思是“成年的”; of an age的意思是“同年的”; of the age的意思是“当代的”。例如：

 ♣ for age, in age
　这两个短语都表示“长时间”。区别是：后者主要用于美式英语。
 ♣ age, generation, period
　参见period条。

1. 我们不知不觉进入中年。
　［误］ We reach the middle age before we know it.
　［正］ We reach middle age before we know it.
　［析］ old age（老年）和middle age（中年）之前均不用冠词。
2. 我在那个年龄经常放学后去打乒乓球。
　［误］ I used to play table tennis after school when I was in that age.
　［正］ I used to play table tennis after school when I was that age.
　［析］ that age作“那个年龄”讲，可以直接作表语或定语，不必加任何介词。
3. 他年老背驼。
　［误］ His back is bent with ages.
　［正］ His back is bent with age.
　［析］ age在作“年老”解时是抽象名词，即是不可数名词，因此不能用复数形式。
4. 我十六岁。
　［误］ I am at the age of sixteen.
　［误］ I am sixteen of age.
　［正］ My age is sixteen years.
　［析］ at the age of在句中一般不可用作表语。
5. 我们的老师是个年轻人。
　［误］ Our teacher is a young-aged man.
　［正］ Our teacher is a young man.
　［析］ “年轻人”和“老年人”应说a young〔old〕 man，只有“中年人”才可说a middle-aged man.
6. 我儿子5岁。
　［误］ My son's age is five years old.
　［正］ My son is five years old.
　［析］ age与old是同义词，不可在一个句子中同时出现。

1. 当复数物主代词修饰“年龄”时，可用ages，也可用age. 后者着眼于个体。例如：

2. “他18岁。”的说法：
　可说
　He is eighteen.
　He is eighteen years.
　He is eighteen years old.
　He is eighteen years of age.
　He is aged eighteen.
　His age is eighteen.
　不宜说
　He is eighteen of age.
　He is of eighteen years old.
　He is at the age of eighteen.
　His age is eighteen years old.
　近年来美国报刊上常有用"age+数词”表示年龄。例如：
　John Smith, age 17, was arrested for drug-pushing.　约翰·史密斯，17岁，因贩毒而被捕。
3. 一般问“你多大年纪?”是How old are you?但也可说What is your age?只是后者是相当正式的语体。

1. vt. & vi.长大，变老；使苍老　 become old or seem old
2. vi.变陈，变醇厚　 become fitter for use with the passage of time; have a fully-developed taste

　～ a lot　老了许多
　～ fast　老得很快
　～ overnight　一夜之间变老了
　～ very much　老了许多
　～ well　陈得好
　～ considerably　老了很多
　～ greatly　老多了
　～ quickly　老得很快
　～ rapidly　老得很快
　～ visibly　明显地变老

　He is aging rapidly.　他老得很快。
　The wine aged well.　这酒陈得很好。
　The wine is put into oak casks to age.　酒被放在橡木桶中让其变陈。
　Fear and anxiety aged him overnight.　恐惧和忧虑使他一夜之间变老了。
　The fear of what might happen aged him.　对可能发生的事情的担忧使他变得苍老了。
　He is a boy aged ten.　他是个10岁的孩子。
　He is an aged man.　他是一个老年男子。

 ♣ age, develop, mature, mellow, ripen
　参见mature条。

　［同义词］ n. era, epoch, grown-up, mature, period, time v. decline, develop, get on, grow old, mature
　［词源］古法语aage（年龄）