gild
/ɡɪld/ IELTSAcademic
verb
- 1.
To cover something with a thin layer of gold, or something that looks like gold. It is often used for objects, decorations, or writing in a more literary way.
- They gilded the frame with gold leaf.
- The dome was gilded in the sunlight.
- 2.
To make something seem better, richer, or more attractive than it really is. This use is often formal or literary.
- The report gilded the company’s poor results.
- Do not gild the truth to please people.
Adinary Nuance
Gild is more literary and less common than "gold plate" or "cover with gold." It also has a figurative meaning: to make something look better than it really is. Writers choose gild when they want a more elegant or formal tone, especially in phrases like "gild the truth."
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- mạ vàng
- Spanish
- dorar
- Chinese
- 镀金
- Japanese
- 金めっきする
- Korean
- 금칠하다
Etymology
From Old English gildan, meaning “to cover with gold.” It is related to the noun gold and has been in English since early times.
Common phrases
gild the lilygilded framegild the truthgilded age
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is gild a common everyday word?
- Not really. It is more common in writing, poetry, and formal speech.
- What is the difference between gild and gold-plate?
- Gold-plate is more direct and technical. Gild sounds more literary and elegant.
- What does gild the lily mean?
- It means to add extra decoration or detail to something already good.
- Can gild mean to exaggerate?
- Yes. It can mean making something seem better than it really is.