older & elder

[Unregistered]

hello,

Could you explain me the difference between 'older' and elder'?

thanks

[HCaulfield]

older than=more old than

While elder can mean the same as older does, when used as an adjective, it can also be used as a noun, when referrin to an old person in general:

I saw an elder waiting for the bus.

See the usage note at http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=elder

[Tdol]

Elderis an attributive adjective- it can be used before a noun, but not after a verb. You can say 'my elder brother', but not *'my brother is elder than me'.