verb
- a simple past tense and past participle of gild1.
adjective
- gilded.
- gold in color; golden.
noun
- the thin layer of gold or other material applied in gilding.
- gilt-edged security.
noun
- a young female swine, especially one that has not produced a litter.
verb (used with object), gild·ed or gilt, gild·ing.
- to coat with gold, gold leaf, or a gold-colored substance.
- to give a bright, pleasing, or specious aspect to.
- Archaic. to make red, as with blood.
- gild the lily, to add unnecessary ornamentation, a special feature, etc., in an attempt to improve something that is already complete, satisfactory, or ideal: After that wonderful meal, serving a fancy dessert would be gilding the lily.
verb
- a past tense and past participle of gild 1
noun
- gold or a substance simulating it, applied in gilding
- another word for gilding (def. 1), gilding (def. 2)
- superficial or false appearance of excellence; glamour
- a gilt-edged security
- take the gilt off the gingerbread to destroy the part of something that gives it its appeal
adjective
- covered with or as if with gold or gilt; gilded
noun
- a young female pig, esp one that has not had a litter
verb gilds, gilding, gilded or gilt (ɡɪlt) (tr)
- to cover with or as if with gold
- gild the lily
- to adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful
- to praise someone inordinately
- to give a falsely attractive or valuable appearance to
- archaic to smear with blood
noun
- a variant spelling of guild (def. 2)
c.1400, past participle of Middle English gilden, from Old English gyldan (see gild). Also used as a noun with a sense of “gilding” (early 15c.).
Old English gyldan “to gild, to cover with a thin layer of gold,” from Proto-Germanic *gulthianan (cf. Old Norse gylla “to gild,” Old High German ubergulden “to cover with gold”), from *gulthan “gold” (see gold). Related: Gilded; gilding. Figuratively from 1590s.