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• gold plate
  gold plate

  noun

  tableware or containers made of gold.
• gold-plate
  gold-plate

  verb (used with object)

  to coat (base metal) with gold, especially by electroplating.

gold plate

¹ American  

noun

1. tableware or containers made of gold.

2. a plating, especially electroplating, of gold.

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gold-plate ² American  

[gohld-pleyt] / ˈgoʊldˈpleɪt /

verb (used with object)

gold-plated, gold-plating

1. to coat (base metal) with gold, especially by electroplating.

2. to incorporate costly features or refinements into (something) unnecessarily.

   The engineers were accused of gold-plating the construction project.

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gold plate ¹ British  

noun

1. a thin coating of gold, usually produced by electroplating

2. vessels or utensils made of gold

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gold-plate ² British  

verb

1. (tr) to coat (other metal) with gold, usually by electroplating

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Example Sentences

That set off a fresh attempt to gold plate banking standards for the second time in a generation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Fountain, ballpoint and rollerball pens are available — finished in 24-carat gold plate, rhodium, titanium, sterling silver and gunmetal.

From Washington Times • Nov. 13, 2023

A gold plate above his locker says “Employee No. 11.”

From Washington Post • Jul. 1, 2022

When Grace Kelly first enters Stewart’s cramped apartment -- like gold plate, like plasma jets off the summer sun -- he audibly gasps.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2016

“Shouldn’t wonder if she drove six white horses, ate off gold plate, and wore diamonds and point lace every day. Teddy thinks nothing too good for her,” returned Jo with infinite satisfaction.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott