| gold in the form of very thin foil, as for gilding. |

| gold leaf n. Gold beaten into extremely thin sheets used especially for gilding. |
gold leaf
extremely thin sheet of gold (about 0.1 micrometre, or 4 millionths of an inch, thick) used for gilding. Medieval illuminated manuscripts gleam with gold leaf, and it is still widely used for gilding ornamental designs, lettering and edgings on paper, wood, ceramics, glass, textiles, and metal
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