silver
SIHL-vuh
Silver (noun) means a shiny, whitish precious metal (symbol Ag) used in jewellery, coins, and electronics. Example: “My grandmother polished the silver every Sunday before the family dinner.”
noun
1
A shiny, whitish precious metal (symbol Ag) used in jewellery, coins, and electronics.
"My grandmother polished the silver every Sunday before the family dinner."
"The old coin was mostly silver, with a small amount of copper mixed in."
"The necklace was made of solid silver."
2
A shiny grey color resembling this metal.
"The car's paint shimmered a pale silver in the morning light."
"Her hair had slowly faded from black to silver over the years."
"She painted the fence a cool silver."
3
A silver medal, awarded for second place.
"The young swimmer was thrilled to bring home silver from the regional championships."
"Our relay team missed gold by a fraction of a second and settled for silver."
"He took silver in the 100 metres final."
adjective
1
Made of silver, or coloured like silver.
"She wore a silver bracelet that her mother gave her."
"The silver clouds drifted slowly over the quiet harbour."
"He drove a silver hatchback."
2
Marking a twenty-fifth anniversary.
"My aunt and uncle are planning a silver anniversary trip to the coast."
"The village choir held a silver jubilee concert to mark twenty-five years together."
"They celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with a big family party."
verb
1
To coat or cover something with silver.
"The jeweller silvers each small spoon before it is packed and sent out."
"Workers silver the back of the glass to turn it into a mirror."
"The mirror's backing had been silvered by hand."
How to use silver
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe precious white metal, its colour, or (in sport) second-place status.
Common pairings
silver medal
silver wedding
sterling silver
silver lining
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Word forms
- Plural
- silvers
- Third person singular
- silvers
- Past tense
- silvered
- Comparative
- more silver
- Superlative
- most silver
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My grandmother polished the _____ every Sunday before the family dinner.
Etymology
From Old English seolfor, of uncertain ultimate origin, though related words appear across Germanic, Baltic, and Slavic languages — unusually widespread for a metal name, suggesting ancient long-distance trade.
Related words
Rhymes for silver
See all rhymes for silver →Frequently asked questions
What does “silver” mean?
The word “silver” means a shiny, whitish precious metal (symbol Ag) used in jewellery, coins, and electronics. In plain terms, the precious white metal, its colour, or (in sport) second-place status.
How do you pronounce “silver”?
“Silver” is pronounced SIHL-vuh (/ˈsɪl.vɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “silver” in a sentence?
Here is “silver” used in a sentence: “The necklace was made of solid silver.”
What is another word for “silver”?
Words with a similar meaning to “silver” include E174.
What part of speech is “silver”?
Depending on how it is used, “silver” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “silver” come from?
The word “silver” comes from Old English. From Old English seolfor, of uncertain ultimate origin, though related words appear across Germanic, Baltic, and Slavic languages — unusually widespread for a metal name, suggesting ancient long-distance trade.
Is “silver” a common word?
“Silver” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “silver” have?
“Silver” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a shiny, whitish precious metal (symbol Ag) used in jewellery, coins, and electronics.
What is the difference between silver and sterling silver?
Pure silver is soft and easily damaged, so it is rarely used on its own. Sterling silver is an alloy, being 92.5% silver mixed with metals like copper for strength, which is why it is stamped "925." Most silver jewelry and cutlery is actually sterling silver, not pure silver.
Why is silver valuable?
Silver is a precious metal that is relatively rare, attractive, and highly useful. It has the best electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal, making it vital in electronics, and it resists corrosion. Its beauty in jewelry and long history as money add further to its value.
What is silver used for?
Beyond jewelry and coins, silver is used in electronics for its excellent conductivity, and in mirrors, solar panels, photography, and medicine, where it acts as an antibacterial agent. It is both a precious metal prized for beauty and an industrial metal essential to modern technology.
Is silver worth more than gold?
No. Gold is considerably more valuable than silver by weight, as it is rarer and more sought after as a store of value. Silver is far more affordable, which is exactly why it is so popular for everyday jewelry and so widely used in industry.
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