n (1)退伍军人(老兵)(former member of the armed forces)[C]：war～经历过战争的老兵;～s of two World Wars 经历过两次世界大战的老兵;V～Day(美国)退伍军人节(11月11日);The American Legion is made up of～s. 美国军团由退役军人组成。〖同〗ex-serviceman，ex-soldier， vet;

(2)有资格的人(老手)(person who is (old and) experienced as a soldier or in some other occupation)[C]：a baseball～棒球老将;The new recruits were impressed by the stories which the～s told them. 新兵为老战士讲的故事所感动。This 1000 metres race is for～s only. 这次1000米赛跑是专为经验丰富的老手们举办的。The minister is too much a～in the world of politics to care much about what his opponents say. 这位大臣是政坛老将，毫不在意他的对手们说些什么。〖同〗expert，master，campaigner，vet;〖反〗beginner，tenderfoot;

(3)使用多年的汽车(机器)(old car， machine， etc)[C]：(sewing machine) be a real～(缝纫机)是一台真正的老机器;

adj (1)有经验的(experienced through long service or practice)： a～footballer/golfer/entertainer/book-keeper/official/politician 一位有经验(老资格)的足球运动员/高尔夫运动员/表演者/簿记员/官员/政治家;the 12-year-old boy — a～traveller 这个12岁的男孩——一位旅游老手;V～troops fought side by side with the young soldiers. 有作战经验的部队与青年士兵并肩作战。〖同〗experienced，seasoned，long-practised;〖反〗beginner;

(2)老的(使用多年的)(having grown old)：～Rolls Royce 多年前的劳斯莱斯汽车;

【说明】在AmE中，vet 表示名词第一个词义“老兵”(infml)。