gold leaf

American  

noun

1. gold in the form of very thin foil, as for gilding.

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gold leaf British  

noun

1. very thin gold sheet with a thickness usually between 0.076 and 0.127 micrometre, produced by rolling or hammering gold and used for gilding woodwork, etc

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Other Word Forms

• gold-leaf
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of gold leaf

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

Gold leaf and outlined contours evoke Eastern European religious icons, while geometric forms recall Soviet-era avant-gardists such as Kazimar Malevich.

From Washington Post • Nov. 9, 2017

Gold leaf could run $25 to $35 a square foot.

From New York Times • Dec. 22, 2016

Gold leaf of nearly 24 karats was applied, then burnished into a gloss, slowly bringing the inscription back to life.

From New York Times • Jun. 24, 2014

"Gold leaf, black background," imagines Peter Corbett, chief executive officer of iStrategyLabs, a Washington digital marketing and advertising agency.

From BBC • Nov. 19, 2012

Gold leaf illumined the capitals and the delicate tracery which bordered the pages.

From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli