gold
gold
Pronunciation
/goʊld/
Syllable 1:
/ɡ/ - voiced velar stop
/oʊ/ - diphthong (as in "boat")
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Noun: gold (singular, uncountable)
Adjective: gold (attributive, e.g., "gold ring")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A precious, yellow, metallic element, highly malleable and ductile, valued for its beauty and resistance to corrosion, often used in coinage, jewelry, and as a standard of value.
Synonyms: bullion, specie, treasure, lucre
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for the element itself, but concepts opposite to its value or desirability might be: worthlessness, dross)
Definition 2: A deep, lustrous yellow color, resembling that of the metal.
Synonyms: golden, aureate, yellow, amber
Antonyms: (Colors typically don't have antonyms, but one could consider contrasting colors like black, white, or silver depending on context)
Definition 3: Wealth or riches, especially in the form of the metal itself or money.
Synonyms: riches, wealth, fortune, affluence, prosperity
Antonyms: poverty, penury, destitution, indigence
Adjective
Definition 1: Made of or containing gold.
Synonyms: golden, gilded, auric
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; depends on the material, e.g., silver, bronze, wooden)
Definition 2: Having the color of gold; deep yellow.
Synonyms: golden, yellowish, amber, tawny
Antonyms: (As with the noun definition of color, no direct antonyms; can be contrasted with other colors)
Definition 3: Of excellent quality; highly valuable or desirable (often used metaphorically).
Synonyms: excellent, prime, top-tier, superb, invaluable
Antonyms: worthless, inferior, shoddy, poor, bad
Examples of Use
Books:
"He struck gold with his latest novel, selling millions of copies worldwide." (Figurative use, indicating great success)
"The dragon hoarded its vast store of gold in a cavern deep beneath the mountains." (Literal use, referring to the metal as treasure) - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Newspapers:
"The price of gold soared to a new record high yesterday amid global economic uncertainty." (Financial news, referring to the commodity) - The Wall Street Journal
"Team USA brought home three gold medals from the Olympic swimming competition." (Sports news, referring to the award) - The New York Times
Online Publications:
"Investing in gold can be a hedge against inflation, according to financial experts." (Financial advice website) - Investopedia
"This recipe for a gold standard of chocolate cake is sure to impress." (Food blog, referring to excellence) - Serious Eats
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music: "She's got a heart of gold." (Figurative use, indicating kindness) - Heart of Gold by Neil Young (Song title and lyric)
Film: "All that glitters is not gold." (Proverbial use, cautioning against superficiality) - The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (Often quoted in film, though originally from a play)
Video Games: "Collect enough gold coins to unlock new characters and levels." (Gaming mechanic, referring to in-game currency) - Super Mario Bros. (General game concept)
Television (Reality TV): "The prospectors are hoping to strike gold in the remote Alaskan wilderness." (Referring to the discovery of the metal) - Gold Rush (Show premise)
General Public Discourse:
"That new restaurant is gold! You have to try their pasta." (Slang/informal, meaning excellent or highly recommended)
"Could you pass me that gold pen?" (Referring to the color)
"His advice was pure gold." (Figurative, meaning extremely valuable or insightful)
"They found a vein of gold in the old mine." (Referring to a deposit of the metal)
10 Famous Quotes Using Gold
"All that glitters is not gold." (William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice)
"The first wealth is health." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Conduct of Life - often paraphrased as "Health is better than wealth" or "Health is more precious than gold")
"Silence is golden." (Proverb)
"Every dog has his day, and a lucky dog he is who has a golden one." (Walter Scott, Ivanhoe)
"A golden age is not in front of us, but behind us." (Often attributed to Greek mythology/philosophy, though specific attribution is difficult)
"You are going to have to work for it. You are going to have to want it more than you want anything." (Often used in sports contexts referring to a "gold medal" or championship)
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." (Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt - While not containing "gold," this quote exemplifies a valuable truth, which can be thought of as "golden advice" for some)
"My heart is pure gold, but my hands are rough and hard." (Attributed to various folklore and character descriptions)
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." (George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman)
"There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart... pursue those." (Michael Nolan - often shared as "golden advice")
Etymology
The word "gold" has a fascinating history that goes back a very long time, to the ancestors of many European languages.
It ultimately comes from a very old root word that roughly meant "to shine" or "yellow." This ancient root, called Proto-Indo-European *ghelh₃-, is also responsible for other words related to brightness or the color yellow in various languages. Think about how gold looks: it's shiny and yellow! So, the connection makes perfect sense.
As languages evolved, this root word changed. In the language known as Proto-Germanic (the ancestor of English, German, Dutch, and other Germanic languages), it became something like *gulþą. This is basically the earliest form of "gold" that directly led to our modern English word.
From Proto-Germanic, it moved into Old English, where it was spelled and pronounced quite similarly to how it is today: gold. At this time, its meaning was clearly established as the precious, yellow metal we know. It also referred to things made of gold, and sometimes even had a broader sense of wealth.
So, in short:
The first known use and meaning of the word "gold" as we understand it today can be traced back to Old English (before 1150 AD), where it already meant the valuable yellow metal.
But its ancestor goes much further back to a common root shared by many ancient languages, linking it to the ideas of "shining" and "yellow" because of the metal's obvious qualities.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Gold
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "gold":
All that glitters is not gold. (Appearance can be deceiving)
Silence is golden. (Sometimes it's best not to speak)
A heart of gold. (A very kind and generous person)
To strike gold. (To discover something very valuable or achieve great success)
The golden rule. (Treat others as you would like to be treated)
Worth its weight in gold. (Extremely valuable or useful)
A golden opportunity. (A perfect or excellent chance)
Golden handcuffs. (Financial incentives that prevent an employee from leaving a company)
Gold standard. (A benchmark of excellence or quality)
To be good as gold. (To be very well-behaved or reliable)
More precious than gold. (Of immense value, often sentimental or intangible)
Golden age. (A period of great prosperity, achievement, or happiness)
To spin straw into gold. (To make something valuable out of something worthless, often through magical or extraordinary means)
To have a golden touch. (To be successful in everything one attempts)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of gold from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
