gold

noun, often attributive

\ ˈgōld

Definition of gold

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a yellow metallic element that occurs naturally in pure form and is used especially in coins, jewelry, and electronics — see Chemical Elements Table

2a(1) : gold coins

(2) : a gold piece

b : money

c : gold standard sense 1

3 : a variable color averaging deep yellow

4 : something resembling gold especially : something valued as the finest of its kind a heart of gold

5 : a medal awarded as the first prize in a competition : a gold medal

gold

adjective

Definition of gold (Entry 2 of 2)

: qualifying for a gold record

go gold

: to have enough sales to qualify for a gold record the album went gold

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing gold Learn More About gold

Synonyms for gold

Synonyms: Noun

bread
[slang],
bucks,
cabbage
[slang],
cash,
change,
chips,
coin,
currency,
dough,
green,
jack
[slang],
kale
[slang],
legal tender,
lolly
[British],
long green
[slang],
loot,
lucre,
money,
moola
(or moolah)
[slang],
needful,
pelf,
scratch
[slang],
shekels
(also sheqels or shekelim or shekalim or sheqalim),
tender,
wampum

Examples of gold in a Sentence

Noun diamonds in a setting of 24-karat gold What is the price of gold?

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Connecticut’s two winners are Preferred Brands of Stamford, which earned the gold for Tasty Bite Organic Turmeric Rice. — Ann Trieger Kurland, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2022 The handsome, timeless design is instantly recognizable with its keyhole bridge, gold arrows at the edges, and Meflecto system. — Mike Richard, Men's Health, 17 May 2022 After all, hard times are made a little easier when celestial guidance is spun into diamonds and gold. — Leena Kim And Olivia Hosken, Town & Country, 17 May 2022 Tickets go on sale to Kings Island gold and platinum pass holders on May 18, and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, May 20. — Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 17 May 2022 For hardware, the singer kept it very minimal with a thin diamond tennis necklace and mini gold hoops. — Alexis Gaskin, Glamour, 17 May 2022 Sevigny accessorized the look with a tiny white handbag adorned with a gold bow and heels with sparkling silver buckles. — Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 May 2022 The bra is also designed with gold hardware (hook and eye closure and strap slider), which gives it a more luxurious look. — Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 17 May 2022 The gold tiles of a domed church had been torn off and the windows of whole neighborhoods shattered. — Matt Bradley, NBC News, 16 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The Fenty Beauty mogul paired the daring look with gold hoops, strappy sandals, and a black Dior saddlebag. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 18 Apr. 2022 Sorkin, 59, and Porizkova, 56, cozied up – Porizkova in a gold cowl-neck gown; Sorkin in a classic black tux – outside the 2021 Academy Awards on Sunday, confirming rumors that swirled last week about the two becoming an item. — Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2021 Kate completed her look with dangly gold earrings by jewelry designer Nadia Irena, as well as matching green heels and a clutch by one of her go-to brands, Emmy London. — Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 4 May 2022 Hastings later donated $100,000 in gold coins to the state to establish the law school in San Francisco. — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2021 Older artifacts found in the cache include gold coins from the Roman Empire that were converted into jewelry. — Tara Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2021 Cue espionage, physical comedy, an LSD trip, impromptu family therapy and a gunfight involving the gold automatic pistols from Face-Off. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2022 It is ringed by a gold lattice dome that echoes the line-and-dot design of the constellations. — Carol Besler, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2022 For my medium skin with gold undertones, my favorite Dew Blush shade is Chilly (a cool-toned mauve). — Shanna Shipin, Glamour, 14 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gold.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for gold

Noun

Middle English, going back to Old English, neuter strong noun, going back to Germanic *gulþa-/*gulđa- (with varying accentuation, whence also Old Frisian, Old Saxon, and Old High German gold "gold," Old Norse gull, goll, Gothic gulþ), going back to dialectal Indo-European *ǵhl̥(h₃)-to-, with full-grade ablaut *ǵhel(h₃)-to- (in Latvian zȩ̀lts "gold," Old Prussian sealtmeno "oriole") and o-grade *ǵhol(h₃)-to- (in Slavic *zȍlto, whence Old Church Slavic zlato "gold," Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian zlâto, Polish złoto, Russian zóloto), all derivatives with the adjectival suffix *-to- from Indo-European *ǵhelh₃- "yellow, green" — more at yellow entry 1

Note: The formation of a word for "gold" from a *-to- derivative of Indo-European *ǵhelh₃- "yellow, green" is peculiar to Germanic, Slavic, and, in part, Baltic. An Indo-Iranian word for "gold" is formed with different suffixation from the same root: *ǵhl̥h₃-en-i̯o-, whence Sanskrit híranya- "gold," Avestan zarańiia-. A full display of forms in medieval and modern languages and loans into non-Indo-European languages is contained in the article "Indo-European 'Gold' in Time and Space" by Václav Blažek, Journal of Indo-European Studies, vol. 45, No. 3 (fall/winter 2017), pp. 267-311.

Learn More About gold

Dictionary Entries Near gold

Golconda

gold

gold-and-silver flower

Statistics for gold

Last Updated

20 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Gold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gold. Accessed 24 May. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for gold

gold

noun

\ ˈgōld

Kids Definition of gold

1 : a soft yellow metallic chemical element used especially in coins and jewelry

2 : gold coins

3 : a medal awarded as the first prize in a competition

4 : a deep yellow

gold

noun, often attributive

\ ˈgōld

Medical Definition of gold

: a malleable ductile yellow metallic element that occurs chiefly free or in a few minerals and is used especially in coins, jewelry, and dentures and in the form of its salts (as gold sodium thiomalate) especially in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis —symbol Au — see Chemical Elements Table