silver

noun

sil·ver | \ ˈsil-vər

Definition of silver

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a very malleable metallic chemical element with atomic number 47 that is capable of a high degree of polish, has the highest thermal and electric conductivity of any substance, and that is used especially in jewelry and tableware, in electronics, and as an antimicrobial — see Chemical Elements Table

2 : silver as a commodity the value of silver has risen

3 : coin made of silver

4 : articles (such as hollowware or table flatware) made of or plated with silver also : similar articles and especially flatware of other metals (such as stainless steel)

5 : a nearly neutral slightly brownish medium gray

6 : coho

7 : a silver medal awarded as the second prize in a competition

silver

adjective

Definition of silver (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : made of silver

2 : resembling silver: such as

a(1) : having a white lustrous sheen

(2) : of or tending towards the color silver silver fur a silver gray

b : giving a soft resonant sound : dulcet in tone

c : eloquently persuasive

3 : consisting of or yielding silver

4 : of, relating to, or characteristic of silver

5 : advocating the use of silver as a standard of currency

6 : of, relating to, or being a 25th anniversary or its celebration

silver

verb

silvered; silvering\ ˈsil-v(ə-)riŋ

Definition of silver (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to cover with silver (as by electroplating)

b : to coat with a substance (such as a metal) resembling silver

2a : to give a silvery luster to

b : to make white like silver

Other Words from silver Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About silver

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Synonyms for silver

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Adjective

Examples of silver in a Sentence

Noun a bracelet made of silver an artist who works in silver and gold a wooden statue inlaid with silver We need to polish the silver. Adjective a dress trimmed with silver ribbon a distinguished-looking gentleman with silver hair Verb The surface of the lake was silvered by the moonlight.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The former Dodgers catcher, 62, most recently managed the U.S. national team that took a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. — Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2021 Barker, who competes for Great Britain, won a silver medal in the women's team pursuit track cycling event. — Scooby Axson, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2021 After Tommy John surgery, Robertson worked his way back into baseball by pitching for the United States team that won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. — Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 5 Oct. 2021 So far, athletes and coaches from the school have won nearly 30 gold medals, a silver medal, and seven bronze medals in total from participating in 15 different Olympic and Paralympic sports. — Amanda Blanco, courant.com, 4 Oct. 2021 Earlier this month, the label’s High Brau won a silver medal in the Dortmunder or German-style Oktoberfest category at the Great American Beer Festival awards in Colorado. — Anna Caplan, Dallas News, 28 Sep. 2021 Ntilikina was selected to be a member of the French national team this summer during the Tokyo Olympics and won a silver medal in the games. — Dallas News, 27 Sep. 2021 Despite her fearless performance, the United States lost 2-0 to Japan, leaving Osterman and her teammates to settle for a silver medal. — Nick Diunte, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2021 Olympic silver medal figure skater Mao Asada is 31. — BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The small, silver forage fish died off in the millions each year, fouling beaches from Kenosha to Door County. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2021 The body of Christopher Gomes was discovered inside a silver SUV parked in front of 62 Taber Ave. — BostonGlobe.com, 9 Oct. 2021 The release said the collision occurred at around 2:46 a.m. after a squad attempted to pull over a silver Monte Carlo near I-395 and Conway Street. — Mary Carole Mccauley, baltimoresun.com, 9 Oct. 2021 The footage showed the same person just after 2 a.m. on Sept. 30 enter the church carrying the duffle bags and remove a silver container from the bag and attempt to light it. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 8 Oct. 2021 That includes an $899 model made from silver titanium with a leather band, as well as a black titanium one with a silicone band. — Mark Gurman, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2021 The bracelets consist of 112 diamonds with a total weight of approximately 150-carats and are open back and set into silver collet settings with gold on the clasp—much of the design was indicative of the period with the exception of the open back. — Beth Bernstein, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2021 Ellington said investigators found evidence that the suspect’s vehicle was a silver Nissan. — NBC News, 8 Oct. 2021 While those three are fighting, that allows Ashley/Ed to smoothly grab another silver ball to advance to the final round, as well as Nany/Logan. — Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Meinhardt’s wife, Lee Kiefer, won gold in women’s foil, and Imboden’s girlfriend, Ysaora Thibus, helped France to silver in the women’s team. — David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2021 Imboden’s partner, Ysaora Thibus, helped France to silver in the women’s team foil. — Rachel Axon, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Aug. 2021 The United States' Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell rallied to silver with a score of 310.80 and Mexico's Gabriela Agundez Garcia and Alejandra Orozco Loza took bronze with a score of 299.70. — Brian Munoz, USA TODAY, 29 July 2021 Her routine earlier in Tokyo earned her a score of 15.4, the highest anyone has received so far, and stepped up to lead Team USA to silver with an unexpected floor routine when teammate Simone Biles pulled out of competition. — Angela Vang/st. Paul, Time, 28 July 2021 The inside surface of this object is silvered and 100% reflective (or as close to it as practically possible). — Quanta Magazine, 1 Apr. 2020 These 400 silvered glass panels, tucked into the western edge of that hot, hot desert, are there to generate heat 15 times that amount. — Laura Mallonee, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020 The grass was silvered with dew, the tears of Aurora, in Roman mythology, the goddess of dawn who wept each sunrise for her dead son, Memnon. — Maureen Stanton, Longreads, 17 Jan. 2020 His silvered-mirror furniture from the '30s and '40s is all the rage today, but eight years ago this bed ended up in a sleepy sale at Sotheby's. — Frances Schultz, House Beautiful, 8 Nov. 2012

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

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Dictionary Entries Near silver

Silvassa

silver

silver age

Statistics for silver

Last Updated

11 Oct 2021

Cite this Entry

“Silver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silver. Accessed 15 Oct. 2021.

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More Definitions for silver

silver

noun

English Language Learners Definition of silver

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a soft grayish-white metal that is very valuable and is used to make jewelry, coins, knives, forks, etc.

: objects (such as knives, forks, teapots, candlesticks, etc.) that are made of or covered with silver

: coins that are made of silver

silver

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of silver (Entry 2 of 3)

: made of silver

: containing silver

: of or relating to silver

silver

verb

English Language Learners Definition of silver (Entry 3 of 3)

: to cover (something, such as a mirror) with a thin layer of silver or something that looks like silver

: to make (something) shine like silver

See the full definition for silver in the English Language Learners Dictionary

silver

noun

sil·ver | \ ˈsil-vər

Kids Definition of silver

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a soft white metallic chemical element that can be polished and is used for money, jewelry and ornaments, and table utensils

2 : coin made of silver

3 : silverware table silver

4 : a medal made of silver that is given to someone who wins second place in a contest

5 : a medium gray

silver

adjective

Kids Definition of silver (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : made of, coated with, or yielding the soft white metallic chemical element silver a silver teapot

2 : having the medium gray color of silver silver hair

silver

verb

silvered; silvering

Kids Definition of silver (Entry 3 of 3)

: to coat with or as if with silver Before us, the countryside unfolded, silvered by frost and moonlight.— Richard Peck, A Year Down Yonder

silver

noun

sil·ver | \ ˈsil-vər

Medical Definition of silver

: a white metallic element that is sonorous, ductile, very malleable, capable of a high degree of polish, and chiefly monovalent in compounds, and that has the highest thermal and electric conductivity of any substance —symbol Ag — see Chemical Elements Table