sterling
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1ster·ling
noun \ˈstər-liŋ\Definition of STERLING
1
: British money
2
: sterling silver or articles of it
See Examples of STERLING
- a drop in the value of sterling
Origin of STERLING
Middle English, silver penny, probably from Old English *steorling, from Old English steorra star + 1-ling — more at star
First Known Use: 14th century
2sterling
adjectiveDefinition of STERLING
1
a : of, relating to, or calculated in terms of British sterling b : payable in sterling
2
a of silver : having a fixed standard of purity usually defined legally as represented by an alloy of 925 parts of silver with 75 parts of copper b : made of sterling silver
3
: conforming to the highest standard <sterling character> <a sterling record of achievement>
— ster·ling·ly adverb
— ster·ling·ness noun
Examples of STERLING
- a sterling example of democracy at work
- <credited the win to the pitcher's sterling performance on the mound>
First Known Use of STERLING
15th century
Related to STERLING
- Synonyms
- A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], boss [slang], brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool [slang], corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope [slang], down [slang], dynamite, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous [slang], fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters (also gangbuster), gilt-edged (or gilt-edge), gone [slang], grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype [slang], immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous (or marvellous), mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, out-of-sight [slang], par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat [slang], prime, primo [slang], prize, prizewinning, quality, radical [slang], righteous [slang], sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, excellent, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-flight, top-notch, top-of-the-line, topping [chiefly British], top-shelf, unsurpassed, wizard [chiefly British], wonderful
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