gilt

¹ American  

[gilt] / gɪlt /

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of gild.

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adjective

1. gilded.

2. gold in color; golden.

noun

1. the thin layer of gold or other material applied in gilding.

2. gilt-edged security.

gilt ² American  

[gilt] / gɪlt /

noun

1. a young female swine, especially one that has not produced a litter.

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gilt ¹ British  

/ ɡɪlt /

verb

1. a past tense and past participle of gild 1

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noun

1. gold or a substance simulating it, applied in gilding

2. another word for gilding gilding

3. superficial or false appearance of excellence; glamour

4. a gilt-edged security

5. to destroy the part of something that gives it its appeal

adjective

1. covered with or as if with gold or gilt; gilded

gilt ² British  

/ ɡɪlt /

noun

1. a young female pig, esp one that has not had a litter

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Etymology

Origin of gilt¹

First recorded in 1300–50, for the adjective

Origin of gilt²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gilte, Old Norse gylta

Example Sentences

Sovereign debt tumbled across Europe, with U.K. gilt yields hitting levels not seen since 2008.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Upcoming U.K. government-bond auctions will be watched closely given the recent jump in gilt yields.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Analysts said gilt yields were particularly vulnerable to the oil price shock because until recently the weak U.K. economy meant the Bank of England was deemed more likely to be cutting rather than raising rates.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

The plunge in gilt prices, which move inversely to yields, was far sharper than the moves seen in other developed-economy bonds of the same duration.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

Some were medieval paintings in gilt frames hardly bigger than CD jewel cases; some were rough pencil sketches of Renaissance statues; some were larger-than-life oil paintings.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Related Words

• gaudy
• gleaming
• glittering
• golden
• lustrous
• painted
• sparkling