gild

1 of 2

verb

gilded ˈgil-dəd How to pronounce gild (audio) or gilt ˈgilt How to pronounce gild (audio) ; gilding

transitive verb

1
: to overlay with or as if with a thin covering of gold
2
a
: to give money to
b
: to give an attractive but often deceptive appearance to
was hired to gild the company's image
c
archaic : to make bloody
gilder noun

gild

2 of 2

noun

less common spelling of guild

1
: an association of people with similar interests or pursuits
especially : a medieval association of merchants or craftsmen
2
: a group of organisms that use the same ecological resource in a similar way
a feeding guild
Phrases
gild the lily
: to add unnecessary ornamentation to something beautiful in its own right

Examples of gild in a Sentence

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.
Verb
Each of these, including his latest — the courtroom drama with a conscience Juror #2 — are marked by a steadfast professionalism, a steady hand and an interest in old-fashioned types of storytelling usually gilded with questions. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2024 At the same time, any bumps in the crew’s five-decade journey are gilded over with effusive but apparently earnest nostalgia; an in-depth excavation or an exhaustive accounting, this is not. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
Damaged gilds the lily, casting-wise, with John Hannah, delivering sterling supporting work as a chief suspect whose alibi would seem to clear him. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024 Luxurious Eyeshadow Guerlain’s gorgeous shadow quartet defines and gilds lids with silky, wearable hues in a range of finishes (matte, satin, pearl, metallic) and neutral and bold color palettes. Good Housekeeping, 20 Apr. 2023 See all Example Sentences for gild 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English gyldan; akin to Old English gold gold

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gild was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near gild

Cite this Entry

“Gild.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gild. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

gild

1 of 2 verb
gilded ˈgil-dəd How to pronounce gild (audio) or gilt ˈgilt How to pronounce gild (audio) ; gilding
: to cover with or as if with a coating of gold
gilder noun

gild

2 of 2

variant of guild

More from Merriam-Webster on gild

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!