"old maid" meaning in English

See old maid in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

Forms: old maids [plural]
Head templates: {{en-noun|~}} old maid (countable and uncountable, plural old maids)
  1. (derogatory) An old woman who has never married; a spinster. Tags: countable, derogatory, uncountable Categories (topical): People Synonyms (old unmarried woman): spinster
    Sense id: en-old_maid-en-noun-dvEL5usv Disambiguation of People: 60 13 1 14 11 1 Disambiguation of 'old unmarried woman': 65 8 2 2 19 3
  2. The Madagascar periwinkle. Tags: countable, uncountable Categories (topical): Card games Categories (lifeform): Dogbane family plants, Heliantheae tribe plants
    Sense id: en-old_maid-en-noun-K0r6iskz Disambiguation of Card games: 3 37 9 8 23 20 Disambiguation of Dogbane family plants: 3 49 14 11 6 16 Disambiguation of Heliantheae tribe plants: 8 43 10 14 8 18 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Catalan translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 2 44 14 11 7 22 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 2 58 18 6 5 12 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 2 48 6 12 8 24 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 1 47 13 9 7 23 Disambiguation of Terms with Catalan translations: 7 46 17 9 7 15
  3. The common zinnia. Tags: countable, uncountable
    Sense id: en-old_maid-en-noun-s0NFDDrO
  4. An unpopped kernel in a batch of popped popcorn kernels. Tags: countable, uncountable Translations (unpopped popcorn): agüelo [masculine] (Catalan), borrego [masculine] (Catalan), frare [masculine] (Catalan)
    Sense id: en-old_maid-en-noun-K9wwKGz3 Disambiguation of 'unpopped popcorn': 5 29 8 38 6 14
  5. (uncountable) A card game in which cards must be paired and one undesirable card is designated "old maid". Tags: uncountable Related terms: Old Maid
    Sense id: en-old_maid-en-noun-UP8Y-xl4
  6. The unmatchable card in that game. Tags: countable, uncountable
    Sense id: en-old_maid-en-noun-cdHLPH0C

Inflected forms

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "old maids",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "~"
      },
      "expansion": "old maid (countable and uncountable, plural old maids)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "60 13 1 14 11 1",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "People",
          "orig": "en:People",
          "parents": [
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "If she is looking for the perfect man before she marries, she'll be an old maid.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An old woman who has never married; a spinster."
      ],
      "id": "en-old_maid-en-noun-dvEL5usv",
      "links": [
        [
          "derogatory",
          "derogatory"
        ],
        [
          "old woman",
          "old woman"
        ],
        [
          "spinster",
          "spinster"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(derogatory) An old woman who has never married; a spinster."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "65 8 2 2 19 3",
          "sense": "old unmarried woman",
          "word": "spinster"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "derogatory",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "2 44 14 11 7 22",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 58 18 6 5 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 48 6 12 8 24",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "1 47 13 9 7 23",
          "kind": "other",
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          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 46 17 9 7 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Catalan translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 37 9 8 23 20",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Card games",
          "orig": "en:Card games",
          "parents": [
            "Games",
            "Recreation",
            "Human activity",
            "Human behaviour",
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 49 14 11 6 16",
          "kind": "lifeform",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Dogbane family plants",
          "orig": "en:Dogbane family plants",
          "parents": [
            "Gentianales order plants",
            "Plants",
            "Lifeforms",
            "All topics",
            "Life",
            "Fundamental",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "8 43 10 14 8 18",
          "kind": "lifeform",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Heliantheae tribe plants",
          "orig": "en:Heliantheae tribe plants",
          "parents": [
            "Composites",
            "Asterales order plants",
            "Plants",
            "Lifeforms",
            "All topics",
            "Life",
            "Fundamental",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1901, John Weathers, A Practical Guide to Garden Plants::",
          "text": "The following are the only hardy species grown, but V. rosea, with rosy or white flowers, is a pretty greenhouse plant known as ' Old Maid ' or ' Madagascar Periwinkle'.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1915, Trinidad. Dept. of Agriculture, Bulletin - Volumes 14-21, page 21:",
          "text": "Vincas — Old Maids or Periwinkles, often serve a useful purpose as edgings or ground work to beds or borders.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1947, Olive Percival, Our old-fashioned flowers, page 187:",
          "text": "Old Maids, Vinca rosea",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1975, William Goyen, The Collected Stories of William Goyen, page 158:",
          "text": "They would bring potted plants and ferns and seeds for old-maids and periwinkles.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2004, African Entomology: Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa:",
          "text": "Here I show that Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don f. (Apocynaceae), known as Old Maid or Madagascar periwinkle, has floral nectaries that combine both functions.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The Madagascar periwinkle."
      ],
      "id": "en-old_maid-en-noun-K0r6iskz",
      "links": [
        [
          "Madagascar periwinkle",
          "Madagascar periwinkle"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1989, William C. Welch, Perennial Garden Color, page 247:",
          "text": "Zinnias are sometimes known as \"Old Maids\" in the South.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1868, The New England Farmer - Volume 2, page 347:",
          "text": "Of annuals: Sweet Alyssum, Amaranthus — Prince's Feather, and Love lies bleeding, Celosia— Cock's comb; Asters, Callistephus— China and German Asters, Centaurea, Bachelor's Button, Clarkia Coreopsis, Datura, Escholzia, Hibuiscus— Rose Mallow, Iberis— Candy tuft, Impatiens— Balsam, Lavatera, Lupin, Mimosa, Mirabilis, Four o'clock— Marvel of Peru, Nigella— Love-in-a-mist— Jack in the Bush, Portulaca, Petunia, Reseda Odorata— Mignouette, Scabiosa— Mouring Bride, Silene— Catchfly, Calendula— Pot Marigold, Tagetes — French Marigold, and African do, Papaver — Poppy, and Zinnia — Old maids.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1981, The West Texas Historical Association Year Book - Volume 57, page 79:",
          "text": "Among the flowers commonly grown were holly hocks, phlox, four o'clocks, bouncing betty, lantanas, the hardy flagg, now known as iris, zinnias, commonly called old maids, beds of chrysanthemums, periwinkle, lady slippers, blue bonnets, lark spur, prim rose, little wild yellow rose, climbing yellow rose, and single petal red rose.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2006, Anne Hart, 102 Ways to Apply Career Training in Family History/Genealogy, →ISBN:",
          "text": "Décor featured a centerpiece at the old maid's party—the old maid flower, a zinnia.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011, Susan Haltom, Jane Roy Brown, One Writer’s Garden: Eudora Welty’s Home Place, →ISBN, page 101:",
          "text": "If the children are at home, the front yard, creeping unsodded from beneath the porch, is naked and clean. If the children are grown ..., verbena, old maids [zinnias], phlox, and four-o'clocks, crowd each together for space",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011, William C. Welch, Greg Grant, Heirloom Gardening in the South: Yesterday's Plants for Today's Gardens, →ISBN:",
          "text": "Zinnia elegans: Common Zinnia, Old-Maids Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower) Size: 1–4 ft Zones: NA Warm-season annual Summer flowers in all colors",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The common zinnia."
      ],
      "id": "en-old_maid-en-noun-s0NFDDrO",
      "links": [
        [
          "zinnia",
          "zinnia"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "2004 April 29 – May 5, \"Unpopped Kernels Costing U.S. Billions\", The Onion, available in Embedded in America, →ISBN, page 147,\nCrawford asked Congress to double funding for the FDA's $200 million old-maid-elimination research project."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An unpopped kernel in a batch of popped popcorn kernels."
      ],
      "id": "en-old_maid-en-noun-K9wwKGz3",
      "links": [
        [
          "unpopped",
          "unpopped"
        ],
        [
          "kernel",
          "kernel"
        ],
        [
          "batch",
          "batch"
        ],
        [
          "pop",
          "pop"
        ],
        [
          "popcorn",
          "popcorn"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "5 29 8 38 6 14",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "unpopped popcorn",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "agüelo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 29 8 38 6 14",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "unpopped popcorn",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "borrego"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 29 8 38 6 14",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "unpopped popcorn",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "frare"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "A card game in which cards must be paired and one undesirable card is designated \"old maid\"."
      ],
      "id": "en-old_maid-en-noun-UP8Y-xl4",
      "links": [
        [
          "card game",
          "card game"
        ],
        [
          "card",
          "card"
        ],
        [
          "pair",
          "pair"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(uncountable) A card game in which cards must be paired and one undesirable card is designated \"old maid\"."
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "43 0 0 0 57 0",
          "word": "Old Maid"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The unmatchable card in that game."
      ],
      "id": "en-old_maid-en-noun-cdHLPH0C",
      "links": [
        [
          "unmatchable",
          "unmatchable"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "en:old maid"
  ],
  "word": "old maid"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English nouns",
    "English uncountable nouns",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Catalan translations",
    "en:Card games",
    "en:Dogbane family plants",
    "en:Heliantheae tribe plants",
    "en:People"
  ],
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "old maids",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "~"
      },
      "expansion": "old maid (countable and uncountable, plural old maids)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "Old Maid"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English derogatory terms",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "If she is looking for the perfect man before she marries, she'll be an old maid.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An old woman who has never married; a spinster."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "derogatory",
          "derogatory"
        ],
        [
          "old woman",
          "old woman"
        ],
        [
          "spinster",
          "spinster"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(derogatory) An old woman who has never married; a spinster."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "derogatory",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1901, John Weathers, A Practical Guide to Garden Plants::",
          "text": "The following are the only hardy species grown, but V. rosea, with rosy or white flowers, is a pretty greenhouse plant known as ' Old Maid ' or ' Madagascar Periwinkle'.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1915, Trinidad. Dept. of Agriculture, Bulletin - Volumes 14-21, page 21:",
          "text": "Vincas — Old Maids or Periwinkles, often serve a useful purpose as edgings or ground work to beds or borders.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1947, Olive Percival, Our old-fashioned flowers, page 187:",
          "text": "Old Maids, Vinca rosea",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1975, William Goyen, The Collected Stories of William Goyen, page 158:",
          "text": "They would bring potted plants and ferns and seeds for old-maids and periwinkles.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2004, African Entomology: Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa:",
          "text": "Here I show that Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don f. (Apocynaceae), known as Old Maid or Madagascar periwinkle, has floral nectaries that combine both functions.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The Madagascar periwinkle."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Madagascar periwinkle",
          "Madagascar periwinkle"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
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    {
      "categories": [
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      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1989, William C. Welch, Perennial Garden Color, page 247:",
          "text": "Zinnias are sometimes known as \"Old Maids\" in the South.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1868, The New England Farmer - Volume 2, page 347:",
          "text": "Of annuals: Sweet Alyssum, Amaranthus — Prince's Feather, and Love lies bleeding, Celosia— Cock's comb; Asters, Callistephus— China and German Asters, Centaurea, Bachelor's Button, Clarkia Coreopsis, Datura, Escholzia, Hibuiscus— Rose Mallow, Iberis— Candy tuft, Impatiens— Balsam, Lavatera, Lupin, Mimosa, Mirabilis, Four o'clock— Marvel of Peru, Nigella— Love-in-a-mist— Jack in the Bush, Portulaca, Petunia, Reseda Odorata— Mignouette, Scabiosa— Mouring Bride, Silene— Catchfly, Calendula— Pot Marigold, Tagetes — French Marigold, and African do, Papaver — Poppy, and Zinnia — Old maids.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1981, The West Texas Historical Association Year Book - Volume 57, page 79:",
          "text": "Among the flowers commonly grown were holly hocks, phlox, four o'clocks, bouncing betty, lantanas, the hardy flagg, now known as iris, zinnias, commonly called old maids, beds of chrysanthemums, periwinkle, lady slippers, blue bonnets, lark spur, prim rose, little wild yellow rose, climbing yellow rose, and single petal red rose.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2006, Anne Hart, 102 Ways to Apply Career Training in Family History/Genealogy, →ISBN:",
          "text": "Décor featured a centerpiece at the old maid's party—the old maid flower, a zinnia.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011, Susan Haltom, Jane Roy Brown, One Writer’s Garden: Eudora Welty’s Home Place, →ISBN, page 101:",
          "text": "If the children are at home, the front yard, creeping unsodded from beneath the porch, is naked and clean. If the children are grown ..., verbena, old maids [zinnias], phlox, and four-o'clocks, crowd each together for space",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011, William C. Welch, Greg Grant, Heirloom Gardening in the South: Yesterday's Plants for Today's Gardens, →ISBN:",
          "text": "Zinnia elegans: Common Zinnia, Old-Maids Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower) Size: 1–4 ft Zones: NA Warm-season annual Summer flowers in all colors",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The common zinnia."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "zinnia",
          "zinnia"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "2004 April 29 – May 5, \"Unpopped Kernels Costing U.S. Billions\", The Onion, available in Embedded in America, →ISBN, page 147,\nCrawford asked Congress to double funding for the FDA's $200 million old-maid-elimination research project."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An unpopped kernel in a batch of popped popcorn kernels."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "unpopped",
          "unpopped"
        ],
        [
          "kernel",
          "kernel"
        ],
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          "batch",
          "batch"
        ],
        [
          "pop",
          "pop"
        ],
        [
          "popcorn",
          "popcorn"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English uncountable nouns"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A card game in which cards must be paired and one undesirable card is designated \"old maid\"."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "card game",
          "card game"
        ],
        [
          "card",
          "card"
        ],
        [
          "pair",
          "pair"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(uncountable) A card game in which cards must be paired and one undesirable card is designated \"old maid\"."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The unmatchable card in that game."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "unmatchable",
          "unmatchable"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "sense": "old unmarried woman",
      "word": "spinster"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "unpopped popcorn",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "agüelo"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "unpopped popcorn",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "borrego"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "unpopped popcorn",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "frare"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "en:old maid"
  ],
  "word": "old maid"
}

Download raw JSONL data for old maid meaning in English (6.2kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-11-28 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-11-21 using wiktextract (65a6e81 and 0dbea76). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

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