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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
The Tradition is a captivating watch, and this Reference 7027 is rendered in yellow gold, providing a tone-on-tone aesthetic within the dial itself. Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2024 Remember, not all that glitters is gold; focus on what genuinely resonates with your soul. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The embossed, bandana–esque print is such a nice touch, as is the gold chain strap. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2024 Erivo, 37, wore a full green ensemble, in a nod to her character in the film Elphaba, of a Baker Boy cap and bomber jacket dress with gold drop earrings. Staff Author, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gold 

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 5 Nov. 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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