gold

1 of 2

noun

plural golds
1
: a yellow metallic element with atomic number 79 that occurs naturally in pure form and is used especially in coins, jewelry, and electronics see Chemical Elements Table
2
a(1)
: gold coins
(2)
: a gold piece
b
: money
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

2 of 2

adjective

1
: made of or containing gold
a gold ring/watch
a gold mine
2
: having a gold color : golden
gold eyes
an orange and gold cat
a blue shirt with gold stripes
3
: qualifying for a gold record
Phrases
go gold
: to have enough sales to qualify for a gold record
the album went gold

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
At Loewe, makeup artist Pat McGrath crafted a range of gold and silver accents swept atop a number of models’ peepers. Jennifer Weil, WWD, 8 Oct. 2024 Then there’s a blue titanium cuff, in textured pattern wrapped by a string of yellow gold. Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Related Articles Beyoncé opted for a beaming yellow and gold look courtesy of Sergio Hudson’s spring 2025 ready-to-wear collection. Julia Teti, WWD, 9 Oct. 2024 Attendees of the lavish event shared photos and videos from the shower, which included tables decorated with gold candle-dessert holders, a two-tier cake, and maternity photos of the couple. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gold 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gold.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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.

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gold was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near gold

Cite this Entry

“Gold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gold. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

gold

noun
ˈgōld
1
: a soft yellow metallic element that is used especially in coins and jewelry see element
2
a
: gold coins
3
: a deep yellow
4
: a medal awarded as the first prize in a competition : a gold medal
gold adjective

Medical Definition

gold

noun
often attributive
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on gold

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