gold

1 of 2

noun

ˈgōld 

often attributive

1

: a yellow metallic element 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

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

2 of 2

adjective

: qualifying for a gold record

Phrases

go gold

: to have enough sales to qualify for a gold record

the album went 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 [slang]
• moolah
• needful
• pelf
• scratch [slang]
• shekels
• sheqels
• shekelim
• shekalim
• 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

Despite years of financial turmoil, and a post-baseball life largely outside the public view, Garvey remained political gold to Southern California baseball fans — particularly the Republican ones. —David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 23 Apr. 2024

Most original models were made of 18-karat yellow gold, though Cartier produced some examples in other metals in the ‘80s and ‘90s. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024

Underneath her collar sat a gold necklace peeking through that matched her gold hoop earrings, and her single gold ring on one hand. —Essence, 22 Apr. 2024

Like gold, oil prices have been significantly affected by the ongoing conflict. —Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024

In his model portfolio a defensive approach involves hedging risk assets with long volatility and commodity exposure, excluding gold. —Alexandra Semenova, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024

The veterans group is open to submarine crew who have qualified to wear the warfare specialty pin, the dolphins (silver or gold). —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024

Many still compete for China and several, including the two-time gold medalist Zhang Yufei, are expected to contend for medals again at this year’s Summer Games in Paris. —Tariq Panja, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024

Their small black and gold markers sit in narrow marble frames, flat to the ground alongside a quiet path. —Susan Page, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

Adjective

Money has flowed into gold ETFs in mainland China during almost every month since June, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. —Bloomberg, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2024

The actor, who is undertaking the role of Mrs. Webb in a production of Our Town coming to Broadway this fall, accessorized her look with gold jewelry. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024

The Palestinian grandmother would decorate the house with gold streamers and multi-colored balloons, as white confetti poured from the ceiling. —Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

Politicians were given gray check marks and organizations could pay for gold check marks. —Kat Tenbarge, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024

Meanwhile, Medina was believed to be seen driving around the gas station in a gold minivan in search of the woman as deputies kept watch. —Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024

Crabb set out the same year with a group of white men, including unsuccessful gold miners and several other former California lawmakers, loading up on weapons after arriving by boat in Los Angeles. —The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

On her own Instagram, Khloe enjoyed the ocean water in a gold one-piece swimsuit and fishnet cover-up, tagging her sister Kim’s brand Skims in the photos. —Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024

Then, to finish, accessorize the look with a heeled Mary Jane and gold drop earrings. —Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024

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

1969, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gold

• as good as gold
• basket-of-gold
• black gold
• fool's gold
• go gold
• going for the gold
• gold coast
• gold digger
• gold-filled
• gold leaf
• gold medal
• gold mine
• gold of pleasure
• gold-plated
• gold record
• gold rush
• gold standard
• heart of gold
• old gold
• pot of gold
• strike gold
• the gold standard
• white gold
• worth one's weight in gold

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

b

: money sense 1a

3

: a deep yellow

4

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

gold adjective

Medical Definition

gold

noun

ˈgōld 

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