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¹silver

noun sil·ver \ˈsil-vər\

: a soft grayish-white metal that is very valuable and is used to make jewelry, coins, knives, forks, etc.

: objects (such as knives, forks, teapots, candlesticks, etc.) that are made of or covered with silver

: coins that are made of silver

Full Definition of SILVER

: a white ductile very malleable metallic element that is capable of a high degree of polish, is chiefly monovalent in compounds, and has the highest thermal and electric conductivity of any substance — see element table

: silver as a commodity <the value of silver has risen>

: coin made of silver

: articles (as hollowware or table flatware) made of or plated with silver; also : similar articles and especially flatware of other metals (as stainless steel)

: a nearly neutral slightly brownish medium gray

: coho

: a silver medal awarded as the second prize in a competiton

See silver defined for English-language learners

See silver defined for kids

Origin of SILVER

Middle English, from Old English seolfor; akin to Old High German silbar silver, Lithuanian sidabras

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SILVER

Synonyms: flatware, tableware, silverware

²silver

adjective

: made of silver

: containing silver

: of or relating to silver

Full Definition of SILVER

: made of silver

: resembling silver: as

a (1) : having a white lustrous sheen (2) : of or tending towards the color silver <silver fur> <a silver gray>

b : giving a soft resonant sound : dulcet in tone

c : eloquently persuasive

: consisting of or yielding silver

: of, relating to, or characteristic of silver

: advocating the use of silver as a standard of currency

: of, relating to, or being a 25th anniversary or its celebration

See silver defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of SILVER

before 12th century

Related to SILVER

Synonyms: argentine, grayish, leaden, pewter, gray, silvery, slate, slaty (also slatey), steely

³silver

transitive verb

: to cover (something, such as a mirror) with a thin layer of silver or something that looks like silver

: to make (something) shine like silver

sil·veredsil·ver·ing \ˈsil-v(ə-)riŋ\

Full Definition of SILVER

a : to cover with silver (as by electroplating)

b : to coat with a substance (as a metal) resembling silver

a : to give a silvery luster to

b : to make white like silver

— sil·ver·er \ˈsil-vər-ər\ noun

First Known Use of SILVER

14th century

SILVER Defined for Kids

¹silver

noun sil·ver \ˈsil-vər\

Definition of SILVER for Kids

: a soft white metallic chemical element that can be polished and is used for money, jewelry and ornaments, and table utensils

: coin made of silver

: silverware <table silver>

: a medal made of silver that is given to someone who wins second place in a contest

: a medium gray

²silver

adjective

Definition of SILVER for Kids

: made of, coated with, or yielding the soft white metallic chemical element silver <a silver teapot>

: having the medium gray color of silver <silver hair>

³silver

verb

sil·veredsil·ver·ing

Definition of SILVER for Kids

: to coat with or as if with silver <Before us, the countryside unfolded, silvered by frost and moonlight. — Richard Peck, A Year Down Yonder>

Medical Dictionary

silver

noun sil·ver \ˈsil-vər\

Medical Definition of SILVER

: a white metallic element that is sonorous, ductile, very malleable, capable of a high degree of polish, and chiefly monovalent in compounds, and that has the highest thermal and electric conductivity of any substance—symbol Ag; see element table