silver
Pluralsilvers (some meanings)
Verbsilvers, silvering, silvered
Pluralsilvers (some meanings)
Formssilvers, silvering, silvered
- 1A shiny white metal used for jewelry, coins, and mirrors.
Like gold, but a shiny white-gray color instead of yellow.
Silver tarnishes and turns dark if you never clean it.
They mine silver in the mountains near the old town.
UsageSay made of silver, or some silver.
- 2Having a shiny gray color, like the metal.
The lake looked silver in the moonlight.
The old man had silver hair.
UsageSay his hair turned silver.
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- 3A medal given for coming in second place.
She won a silver at the school sports day.
He was proud of his silver from the swimming race.
UsageSay she won silver.
- 4Made of silver, or of a metal that looks like silver.
She inherited a silver spoon from her grandmother.
The guests drank from silver cups at the feast.
- 5A shiny gray color like the metal silver, or something that shines that way.
She painted the fence a bright silver.
The new car was a beautiful silver.
- 6Good and valued, but ranked one level below gold in a set of plans or memberships.
Like coming in second place: really good, but not quite first.
She earned a silver membership that came with extra perks.
The silver package costs less than the gold one but more than the basic plan.
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- 7Coins made from silver or a similar white metal.
He paid for the bread with a handful of silver.
She paid the shopkeeper in silver, counting out each coin.
UsageSay he paid in silver.
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- 8Marking a twenty-fifth anniversary, especially of a wedding.
They celebrated their silver wedding with a big party.
My parents reached their silver anniversary this year.
UsageSay their silver wedding.
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- 9To put a thin layer of silver or a similar shiny metal over something.
Like painting a wall, but with a thin coat of shiny metal instead of paint.
Workers silver the back of each mirror so it reflects light.
They silvered the old serving tray to make it look new again.
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Less common meanings
- 10Things made of silver or a similar metal, especially knives, forks, and spoons.
The shelf was crowded with silver: bowls, candlesticks, and picture frames.
Burglars made off with the family's silver and jewelry.
- 11To make something look silver or white, or to slowly turn that color.
Like how snow turns the whole world white in winter.
The years silvered his once-dark hair.
A hard frost can silver the rooftops overnight.
UsageMostly used in writing, often about hair: his hair was silvered with age.
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- 12Having to do with old people, especially their needs and daily life.
Products for older adults are a big part of the silver economy.
The town hall offers free computer classes for the silver generation.
UsageUse it before a noun: the silver economy.
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- 13
- 14To make something shine brightly, like polished silver.
For here retir'd the ſinking billows ſleep, / And ſmiling calmneſs ſilver'd o'er the deep.
1725, Homer, The Odyssey of HomerHere, silver'd means made bright and shiny like silver.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Old English "seolfor," going back through the Germanic languages. Its ultimate origin is unknown.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- Silver derives from Old English seolfor. en.wiktionary.org
- The word traces back through Germanic ancestral languages. en.wiktionary.org
- The word's ultimate origin is unknown. en.wiktionary.org