Gold: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ’ฐ
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gold

 

[ ษกoสŠld ]

Noun / Verb
Oxford 3000 Materials
Context #1 | Noun

precious metal

Gold is a precious metal that is shiny, yellow in color, and is extremely valuable. It is often used for making jewelry, coins, and other decorative items. Gold is a symbol of wealth and luxury.

Synonyms

bullion, precious metal, yellow metal.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
gold

As seen earlier, this term also commonly appears in artistic and linguistic expressions highlighting something precious or highly valued.

  • The team was aiming for the gold in the Olympics
  • His words are worth their weight in gold
precious metal

This term is used in a broader context to describe metals that are rare and have high economic value, such as gold, silver, and platinum. It is frequently used in industries like jewelry, finance, and manufacturing.

  • Gold is considered a precious metal due to its limited supply and high demand
  • The company specializes in the refining of precious metals
bullion

Used primarily in the context of finance and investment to describe gold bars or ingots that are generally kept as a store of value. It is not typically used in everyday conversation and often appears in financial reports or investment discussions.

  • The investor purchased gold bullion to secure his portfolio
  • The bank's vault contained tons of gold bullion
yellow metal

This term specifically refers to gold and is often used in more casual or descriptive contexts. It can sometimes be found in poetry, literature, or journalism.

  • Miners were on the lookout for the elusive yellow metal
  • The artisan crafted beautiful rings from the yellow metal

Examples of usage

  • Her necklace was made of pure gold.
  • The Olympic medals are made of gold.
Context #2 | Noun

highest standard

Gold is also used to describe something of the highest standard or quality. When something is referred to as 'gold', it means it is excellent or top-notch.

Synonyms

excellent, premium, top-notch.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
gold

Use 'gold' when referring to something that has high value or quality, often associated with luxury or wealth. It can also be used in a literal sense to describe the precious metal.

  • She won the gold medal at the Olympics.
  • The ring was made of pure gold.
excellent

Use 'excellent' to describe something of very high quality or outstanding performance. This word is suitable for both formal and informal settings.

  • The service at the restaurant was excellent.
  • She did an excellent job on her presentation.
top-notch

Use 'top-notch' to emphasize the very highest quality, often in a more casual or conversational tone. It is commonly used in various contexts, from products to services to experiences.

  • The chef prepared a top-notch meal for the guests.
  • Her performance in the play was top-notch.
premium

Use 'premium' when talking about products or services of superior quality, often implying a higher price. This term is frequently used in marketing and consumer contexts.

  • They offer a premium subscription that includes additional features.
  • He bought a premium car with all the latest technology.

Examples of usage

  • The team's performance was gold.
  • She has a heart of gold.
Context #3 | Verb

to cover with gold

To gold something means to cover it with a thin layer of gold. This process is often used in crafting and decorating items to give them a luxurious appearance.

Synonyms

gild, plate with gold.

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Word Description / Examples
gold

Used as an adjective to describe the golden color or something that is golden in appearance.

  • She admired the gold leaves in the autumn
  • The gold dress sparkled under the lights
gild

Usually describes the process of applying a thin layer of gold to another material for decorative purposes. It can also be used metaphorically to mean enhancing something unnecessarily.

  • The artist decided to gild the statue to give it a royal appearance
  • They tried to gild the situation by adding irrelevant details
plate with gold

Refers to the process or result of covering an object with a layer of gold. Commonly used to describe lower-cost items that have a gold appearance.

  • The cutlery set was plated with gold to give a luxurious touch
  • The trophy was plated with gold, but it wasn't solid gold

Examples of usage

  • The artist gold-plated the frame of the mirror.
  • She decided to gold-leaf the edges of the table.

Translations

Translations of the word "gold" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น ouro

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเฅ‹เคจเคพ (sona)

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Gold

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ emas

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะทะพะปะพั‚ะพ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ zล‚oto

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้‡‘ (kin)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท or

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ oro

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท altฤฑn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ธˆ (geum)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฐู‡ุจ (dhahab)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zlato

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ zlato

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้‡‘ (jฤซn)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zlato

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ gull

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะปั‚ั‹ะฝ (altyn)

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒฅแƒ แƒ (oqro)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qฤฑzฤฑl

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ oro

Etymology

The word 'gold' has its origins in the Old English word 'geolu', which also meant yellow or golden. Gold has been highly valued and sought after throughout history, with civilizations using it for adornment, currency, and other purposes. The discovery of gold mines and the subsequent gold rushes have shaped economies and societies. Gold continues to be a symbol of wealth, prestige, and quality.

See also: golden.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,054, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.