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
Paramount+ has “The Madison” standout Michelle Pfeiffer and Season 2 of “Landman,” both of which could bring Emmy gilding to Taylor Sheridan’s success, plus “Dexter: Resurrection.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
Not many of us had “Jeffrey Epstein” or “Ghislaine Maxwell” on our bingo cards — to mix metaphors while gilding the lily.
From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2025
They were then sent for gilding and upholstery, before Mr Desnoues added designs and a wood finish.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2025
As the sun was gilding the distant spires of Dragonstone, Dany stumbled onto a low stone wall, overgrown and broken.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
