This is the 3934th most frequent Polish word.
stara
"Stara" means "old" (feminine form) in English.
The word 'stara' here functions as an adjective describing the feminine noun 'książka' (book), meaning 'old'.
Stara książka leży na stole.
The old book is lying on the table.
'Stara' is used as an adjective describing the feminine noun 'tradycja' (tradition), again meaning 'old'.
To stara tradycja w naszej rodzinie.
This is an old tradition in our family.
In colloquial Polish, 'stara' can be used as a noun to refer to an old woman, often affectionately toward one's mother or another familiar older woman, contextually substituting 'my mother' here.