Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun The art or process of applying gilt to a surface.
- noun A thin layer of gold or a paint containing or simulating gold; gilt.
- noun Something used to give a superficially attractive appearance.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The art of overlaying or decorating with gold.
- noun The art or practice of producing the appearance of gilding by the use of other materials than gold. Compare
gild , verb - noun That which is laid on in overlaying with gold; hence, any superficial coating used to give a better appearance to a thing than is natural to it.
- noun A rich golden color imparted to herrings by the use of hard wood only in smoking them.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The art or practice of overlaying or covering with gold leaf; also, a thin coating or wash of gold, or of that which resembles gold.
- noun Gold in leaf, powder, or liquid, for application to any surface.
- noun Any superficial coating or appearance, as opposed to what is solid and genuine.
- noun a tough kind of sheet brass from which cartridge shells are made.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb Present participle of
gild . - noun uncountable The art of applying
gold leaf to a surface - noun uncountable Gold leaf
- noun countable A
coating of gold, etc.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a coating of gold or of something that looks like gold
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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This final act of generosity is what she calls gilding the lily.
Grilled Taleggio-Walnut Sandwich With Roasted Fall Grapes 2010
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The phrase gilding the lily comes to mind but it's more like drenching- in pure picante goodness!
Saturday Morning Egg Muffin Melts (Kalyn Gets Creative With Leftovers) Kalyn Denny 2008
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WASHINGTON was old, dignified and wealthy; and these factitious advantages, never to be despised in gilding a contemporary renown, possessed, unquestionably, a greater influence upon the men of his times, than they would exert among us to-day.
National Disappointment. A Discourse Occasioned by the Assassination of President Lincoln. 1865
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It was late when we arrived at Cocoyotla, but we did not go to rest without visiting the beautiful chapel, which we had omitted to do on our last visit; it is very rich in gilding and ornaments, very large and in good taste.
Life in Mexico, During a Residence of Two Years in That Country Frances Erskine Inglis 1843
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It was so completely enveloped in Dutch gilding that I did not at first recognize an old acquaintance, but wondered what those golden crowns and images could be.
Our Old Home A Series of English Sketches A Series of English Sketches Nathaniel Hawthorne 1834
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While whole milk is the standard prescription for hot chocolate, the idea of gilding the lily with something a little richer is an undeniably attractive one.
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Besides, that which is lost in gilding, which is fooled away upon our Lady of Loretto, and other places, and which has been swallowed up by the avaricious sea must be counted.
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The villa of cardinal Alexander Albani is light, gay, and airy; yet the rooms are too small, and too much decorated with carving and gilding, which is a kind of gingerbread work.
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They are electro-gilt -- that is, the gilding is fixed on them by means of a bath through which an electric current passes.
Chatterbox, 1905. Various
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To separate them, take out the cork and let the dark liquid flow out: when it has disappeared, stop the tube immediately with the cork, and what remains in the tube is fit for use, and may be called gilding liquid.
Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets Daniel Young
frogapplause commented on the word gilding
Why isn't this word "gilting"?
(noun The art or process of applying gilt to a surface.)
June 7, 2010
bilby commented on the word gilding
Gilty! Gilty! I've never seen anyone so gilty!
June 7, 2010