gilding

[gil-ding]

noun

the application of gilt.

the gold leaf or other material with which something is gilded.

the golden surface produced by the application of gilt.

something used to create a deceptively pleasing, impressive, or alluring aspect or character.

Origin of gilding

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at gild¹, -ing¹

gild

[gild]

verb (used with object), gild·ed or gilt, gild·ing.

to coat with gold, gold leaf, or a gold-colored substance.

to give a bright, pleasing, or specious aspect to.

Archaic. to make red, as with blood.

Idioms

gild the lily, to add unnecessary ornamentation, a special feature, etc., in an attempt to improve something that is already complete, satisfactory, or ideal: After that wonderful meal, serving a fancy dessert would be gilding the lily.

Origin of gild

1300–50; Middle English gilden, Old English -gyldan; akin to gold

Related formsgild·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for gilding

bedeck, adorn, plate, varnish, whitewash, paint, deck, enrich, ornament, brighten, wash, beautify, coat, enhance, overlay, garnish, glitter, grace, embroider, tinsel

Examples from the Web for gilding

Historical Examples of gilding

We rake the grass, and then, gilding refined gold, we sweep it.
Tiverton Tales
Alice Brown
Previous to this, the light dust should be blown from the gilding, and a feather or a clean brush lightly passed over it.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
But a dab of varnish, a touch of gilding here and there, was all that was necessary.
Chance
Joseph Conrad
The palisades were of iron, though the tops were tipped with gilding, and they were very high.
Rollo in Paris
Jacob Abbott
He supported many monks, he gave largely to the gilding of the pagoda.
The Soul of a People
H. Fielding

British Dictionary definitions for gilding

gilding

noun

the act or art of applying gilt to a surface

the surface so produced

another word for gilt 1 (def. 2)

gild

verb gilds, gilding, gilded or gilt (ɡɪlt) (tr)

to cover with or as if with gold

gild the lily

to adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful
to praise someone inordinately

to give a falsely attractive or valuable appearance to

archaic to smear with blood

Derived Formsgilder, noun

Word Origin for gild

Old English gyldan, from gold gold; related to Old Norse gylla, Middle High German vergülden

gild

noun

a variant spelling of guild (def. 2)

Derived Formsgildsman, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for gilding

"action of gilding," mid-15c.; "golden surface produced by gilding," 1630s; verbal noun from gild (v.).

gild

Old English gyldan "to gild, to cover with a thin layer of gold," from Proto-Germanic *gulthianan (cf. Old Norse gylla "to gild," Old High German ubergulden "to cover with gold"), from *gulthan "gold" (see gold). Related: Gilded; gilding. Figuratively from 1590s.