gilding

UK: /ˈɡɪldɪŋ/ US: (gil′ding)

From the verb gild: (⇒ conjugate)

gilding is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

gild•ing  (gil′ding), n. 

1. Metallurgy the application of gilt.
2. Metallurgy the gold leaf or other material with which something is gilded.
3. Metallurgy the golden surface produced by the application of gilt.
4. something used to create a deceptively pleasing, impressive, or alluring aspect or character.

• 1400–50; late Middle English; see gild¹, -ing¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gilding / ˈɡɪldɪŋ/ noun

1. the act or art of applying gilt to a surface
2. the surface so produced
3. another word for gilt12

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

gild¹ /gɪld/   v. [~ + object] , gild•ed or gilt/gɪlt/  gild•ing. 

1. to coat with gold, gold leaf, or a gold-colored substance.

Idioms

2. Idioms gild the lily, to add unnecessary ornamental details to something already of great beauty.

gild•er, n. [countable]
gild•ing, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

gild¹  (gild), v.t., gild•ed or gilt, gild•ing. 

1. to coat with gold, gold leaf, or a gold-colored substance.
2. to give a bright, pleasing, or specious aspect to.
3. [Archaic.] to make red, as with blood.
4. Idioms gild the lily, to add unnecessary ornamentation, a special feature, etc., in an attempt to improve something that is already complete, satisfactory, or ideal:
   After that wonderful meal, serving a fancy dessert would be gilding the lily.

• 1300–50; Middle English gilden, Old English -gyldan; akin to gold

gild′a•ble, adj. 

gild²  (gild), n. 

1. World History guild.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gild / ɡɪld/ verb (gilds, gilding, gilded, gilt / ɡɪlt/)(transitive)

1. to cover with or as if with gold
2. gild the lily ⇒ to adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful
3. to praise someone inordinately
4. to give a falsely attractive or valuable appearance to

Etymology: Old English gyldan, from gold gold; related to Old Norse gylla, Middle High German vergülden

ˈgilder noun

gild / ɡɪld/ noun

1. a variant spelling of guild2