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gilding

[ gil-ding ]
/ ˈgɪl dɪŋ /

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.

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Origin of gilding

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

Words nearby gilding

gilded, gilded age, gilded cage, gilder, gildhall, gilding, gilead, gileadite, gilels, giles, gilet

Definition for gilding (2 of 2)

gild1
[ gild ]
/ gɪld /

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.

Origin of gild

1
1300–50; Middle English gilden, Old English -gyldan; akin to gold

OTHER WORDS FROM gild

gild·a·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to gilding

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

Example sentences from the Web for gilding

British Dictionary definitions for gilding (1 of 3)

gilding
/ (ˈɡɪldɪŋ) /

noun

the act or art of applying gilt to a surface
the surface so produced
another word for gilt 1 (def. 2)

British Dictionary definitions for gilding (2 of 3)

gild1
/ (ɡɪld) /

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

to cover with or as if with gold
gild the lily
  1. to adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful
  2. to praise someone inordinately
to give a falsely attractive or valuable appearance to
archaic to smear with blood

Derived forms of gild

gilder, noun

Word Origin for gild

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

British Dictionary definitions for gilding (3 of 3)

gild2
/ (ɡɪld) /

noun

a variant spelling of guild (def. 2)

Derived forms of gild

gildsman, 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