gilding

[ gil-ding ]
See synonyms for gilding on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the application of gilt.

  2. the gold leaf or other material with which something is gilded.

  1. the golden surface produced by the application of gilt.

  2. something used to create a deceptively pleasing, impressive, or alluring aspect or character.

Origin of gilding

1
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at gild1, -ing1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use gilding in a sentence

  • No man with any reverence in him would meddle much with such delicate, lovely old things as many of these gildings!

    There and Back | George MacDonald
  • The landscape was not beautiful, in spite of the sun's profuse gildings, but to the lovers it appeared a Paradise.

    The Green Mummy | Fergus Hume
  • Among the other matters were included questions of candlesticks and bindings and gildings of books.

    Illuminated Manuscripts | John W. Bradley
  • It seems difficult for lightning to resist the attraction of gildings.

    Thunder and Lightning | Camille Flammarion
  • She knew so well the old gildings and the old habitus of her father's salon.

British Dictionary definitions for gilding

gilding

/ (ˈɡɪldɪŋ) /


noun
  1. the act or art of applying gilt to a surface

  2. the surface so produced

  1. another word for gilt 1 (def. 2)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012