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Definition of gild

gild

/ɡɪld/
gild
Adjective:gilded
•
Past Simple:gilded
•
Past Participle:gilded
•
Present Participle:gilding
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gild Lexical Profile

gild Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To cover thinly with gold leaf or gold paint.

Example

"Master artisans were hired to gild the ornate picture frames in the gallery."

2

To give a specious or false brilliance to something, making it appear more attractive or valuable than it really is.

Example

"The biographer refused to gild the harsh realities of the politician's early career."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gild
Antonyms
View all antonyms for gild

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'gild' (to coat with gold) with its homophone 'guild' (an association of artisans or merchants). While 'gilded' is now the standard past participle, the older form 'gilt' survives as a noun and adjective (as in 'gilt-edged').

• Rhymes for gild

• Nearby Words

gila monster
gilbert
gilbert river
gild
gilded
gilding
gilead

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'gyldan', derived from Proto-Germanic '*gulthjanan', a verb formed from the root of 'gold'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gild. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gild
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