adjective
Uncommon
argentine
AH-juhn-teen
Argentine (adjective) means Made of, coated with, or resembling silver. Example: “The old poem describes the moon's argentine glow over the lake.”
adjective
1
Made of, coated with, or resembling silver.
"The old poem describes the moon's argentine glow over the lake."
"Jewellers once used "argentine" to describe a cheap silver-plated alternative to solid silver."
"The argentine surface of the pond shimmered under the full moon."
2
Relating to Argentina or its people (usually capitalized as "Argentine").
"The Argentine economy depends heavily on agricultural exports."
"She grew up in an Argentine household that spoke both Spanish and Italian."
"We ordered an Argentine steak at the new restaurant near the station."
How to use argentine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "silvery" (an old, poetic word) or "relating to Argentina" — spelled the same but pronounced and used very differently.
Common mistake
Don't confuse this with "Argentinian," the more common everyday adjective for people/things from Argentina — "Argentine" is more formal or used in fixed phrases like "Argentine peso."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- argentines
- Comparative
- more argentine
- Superlative
- most argentine
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old poem describes the moon's _____ glow over the lake.
Etymology
From Latin argentum, "silver" — the same root that gives Argentina its name, after Spanish explorers heard tales of silver along the Río de la Plata.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for argentine
See all rhymes for argentine →Frequently asked questions
What does “argentine” mean?
The word “argentine” means made of, coated with, or resembling silver. In plain terms, either "silvery" (an old, poetic word) or "relating to Argentina" — spelled the same but pronounced and used very differently.
How do you pronounce “argentine”?
“Argentine” is pronounced AH-juhn-teen (/ˈɑː(ɹ).d͡ʒənˌtiːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “argentine” in a sentence?
Here is “argentine” used in a sentence: “The old poem describes the moon's argentine glow over the lake.”
What is another word for “argentine”?
Words with a similar meaning to “argentine” include herring smelt.
What part of speech is “argentine”?
“Argentine” is an adjective.
Where does the word “argentine” come from?
The word “argentine” comes from Latin. From Latin argentum, "silver" — the same root that gives Argentina its name, after Spanish explorers heard tales of silver along the Río de la Plata.
Is “argentine” a common word?
“Argentine” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “argentine” have?
“Argentine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: made of, coated with, or resembling silver.
What is the difference between argentine and Argentine?
Lowercase argentine describes something made of, coated with, or resembling silver, drawing on its Latin root related to silver. Capitalized Argentine relates to Argentina or its people. The two senses are distinguished mainly by capitalization and context, since one is a description of material or appearance and the other a nationality.
Is argentine the same as Argentinian or Argentinean?
Argentine, Argentinian, and Argentinean are all used to describe something relating to Argentina or its people, with Argentine being the older and more traditional adjective form. All three are acceptable, though Argentine tends to appear more often in formal or historical writing.
What does argentine mean when describing an object's appearance?
When used to describe an object, argentine means made of, coated with, or resembling silver, referring to its material or visual quality. This sense is unrelated to the geographic meaning connected to Argentina.
