noun
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the act or art of applying gilt to a surface
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the surface so produced
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another word for gilt 1
Etymology
Origin of gilding
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at gild 1, -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As a color, material, and metaphor, gold has been a trademark of Trumpworld since the 1980s, a decade of excess that found Trump building and gilding various real estate holdings.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
They were then sent for gilding and upholstery, before Mr Desnoues added designs and a wood finish.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2025
But in a way, all the giveaways and special events are just gilding the lily.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 16, 2024
Accentuating the glass wrinkles with gilding serves to sanctify the century-old depot structure.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2024
The sun crossed the cold blue sky and then moved down to the southwest, gilding the clouds and tinting the vapor around the mountain every shade of cream and scarlet, of apricot and orange.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
