the act or art of applying gilt to a surface the surface so produced - another word for
gilt 1 2
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
gild1 /gɪld/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], gild•ed or gilt/gɪlt/USA pronunciation gild•ing.
gild•er, n. [countable]
gild•ing, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to coat with gold, gold leaf, or a gold-colored substance.
- Idioms gild the lily, to add unnecessary ornamental details to something already of great beauty.
gild•er, n. [countable]
gild•ing, n. [uncountable]
gild•ing
(gil′ding),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Metallurgythe application of gilt.
- Metallurgythe gold leaf or other material with which something is gilded.
- Metallurgythe golden surface produced by the application of gilt.
- something used to create a deceptively pleasing, impressive, or alluring aspect or character.
- 1400–50; late Middle English; see gild1, -ing1
gild1
(gild),USA pronunciation v.t., gild•ed or gilt, gild•ing.
gild′a•ble, adj.
gild2 (gild),USA pronunciation n.
- to coat with gold, gold leaf, or a gold-colored substance.
- to give a bright, pleasing, or specious aspect to.
- [Archaic.]to make red, as with blood.
- 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
gild2 (gild),USA pronunciation n.
- World Historyguild.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
to cover with or as if with gold - gild the lily ⇒
to adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful to praise someone inordinately to give a falsely attractive or valuable appearance to
- a variant spelling of
guild 2