sterling

[ stur-ling ]
/ ˈstɜr lɪŋ /

adjective

noun

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Origin of sterling

1250–1300; Middle English: name of a silver coin (see star, -ling1), with reference to the little star on some of the mintages

SYNONYMS FOR sterling

4 noble, honorable, worthy, first-rate.

OTHER WORDS FROM sterling

ster·ling·ly, adverbster·ling·ness, noun

Words nearby sterling

sterile cyst, sterilization, sterilize, sterilizer, sterlet, sterling, sterling area, sterling bloc, sterling heights, sterling silver, sterlitamak
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for sterling silver (1 of 3)

sterling silver

noun

an alloy containing not less than 92.5 per cent of silver, the remainder usually being copper
sterling-silver articles collectively

British Dictionary definitions for sterling silver (2 of 3)

sterling
/ (ˈstɜːlɪŋ) /

noun

  1. British moneypound sterling
  2. (as modifier)sterling reserves
the official standard of fineness of British coins: for gold 0.91666 and for silver 0.925
  1. short for sterling silver
  2. (as modifier)a sterling bracelet
an article or articles manufactured from sterling silver
a former British silver penny

adjective

(prenominal) genuine and reliable; first-classsterling quality

Word Origin for sterling

C13: probably from Old English steorra star + -ling 1; referring to a small star on early Norman pennies; related to Old French esterlin

British Dictionary definitions for sterling silver (3 of 3)

Sterling
/ (ˈstɜːlɪŋ) /

noun

Peter. born 1960, Australian rugby league player: played 18 matches for Australia (1982–88)
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

Scientific definitions for sterling silver

sterling silver
[ stûr′lĭng ]

An alloy that contains at least 92.5 percent silver and up to 7.5 percent copper or another metal, used to make jewelry and silverware.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.