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verb (used with object), gild·ed or gilt, gild·ing.
Idioms 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.
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.
Related forms
gild·a·ble, adjective
00:10
Gild
is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To gild
Collins
World English Dictionary
gild1 (ɡɪld) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb , gilds, gilding, gilded, gilt | |
| 1. | to cover with or as if with gold |
| 2. | gild the lily |
| a. to adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful | |
| b. to praise someone inordinately | |
| 3. | to give a falsely attractive or valuable appearance to |
| 4. | archaic to smear with blood |
| [Old English gyldan, from gold | |
| 'gilder1 | |
| —n | |
| gild2 (ɡɪld) | |
| —n | |
| a variant spelling of guild | |
| 'gildsman2 | |
| —n | |
| guild or gild (ɡɪld) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | an organization, club, or fellowship |
| 2. | (esp in medieval Europe) an association of men sharing the same interests, such as merchants or artisans: formed for mutual aid and protection and to maintain craft standards or pursue some other purpose such as communal worship |
| 3. | ecology a group of plants, such as a group of epiphytes, that share certain habits or characteristics |
| [C14: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse gjald payment, gildi guild; related to Old English gield offering, Old High German gelt money] | |
| gild or gild | |
| —n | |
| [C14: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse gjald payment, gildi guild; related to Old English gield offering, Old High German gelt money] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
gild
O.E. gyldan, from P.Gmc. *gulthianan (cf. O.N. gylla "to guild"), from *gulthan "gold."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Nobody has thought to gild the sets or pad the orchestra, which consists exactly of two tuxedoed pianists.
Methinks you gild the lily to much and lose credibility.
Stir in your minced tomatoes and basil and gild the lily with some more oil.
To gild with heavenly hopes their evening's pensive shade.
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