gilded

/ˈɡɪldɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡɪldɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgil-dəd/ (ame, mw)

gilded — adjective

  • gildedpositive
  • more gildedcomparative
  • most gildedsuperlative

1. describes an object whose outer surface has been decorated with a wafer-thin coa

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes an object whose outer surface has been decorated with a wafer-thin coating of gold or a shiny gold-coloured finish.

例句

The antique dealer showed us a gilded picture frame from the 18th century.

used before nouns describing decorative objects

A gilded clock sat on the mantelpiece, its surface shining in the afternoon light.

同義詞
  • gold-plated

    specifically refers to an object coated with real gold through electroplating; more technical than 'gilded'

  • gilt

    describes a thin layer of gold or gold paint applied to a surface — commonly used in art and antiques contexts (e.g., 'gilt frame')

  • gold-covered

    a more literal and less elegant term; can describe anything physically wrapped or coated in gold

反義詞
  • plain

    without decoration or metallic coating

  • matte

    dull, non-reflective finish — the opposite of the shiny appearance gilding provides

用法筆記

The gilding may be real gold leaf or a metallic gold-coloured substitute. This sense is most common when describing decorative household objects, picture frames, furniture, and architectural details.

常見錯誤

❌She bought a gilded necklace.
✅She bought a gold necklace.
💡'gilded' describes a thin decorative coating, not solid gold content. Personal jewellery is usually described by the metal itself.

2. rich and enjoying a life of luxury and social privilege — used especially to des

2.形容詞C1
釋義

rich and enjoying a life of luxury and social privilege — used especially to describe people or settings whose wealth seems protected from ordinary struggles.

例句

The gilded youth of the city spent their summers sailing along the coast of Italy.

fixed phrase: gilded youth

The novel reveals the loneliness hidden behind the gilded doors of wealthy Victorian families.

collocation: gilded doors

同義詞
  • wealthy

    broader and more neutral; simply means having a lot of money, without the literary or slightly critical tone of 'gilded'

  • privileged

    focuses on the social advantages rather than the money itself; less ornate in style

  • luxurious

    describes a comfortable, expensive lifestyle rather than social class directly

反義詞
  • impoverished

    extremely poor, lacking the basic comforts of life

  • underprivileged

    lacking the social and economic advantages that 'gilded' people enjoy

用法筆記

Almost always placed before a noun. The word often carries a hint of criticism — suggesting wealth that is showy, superficial, or conceals something unpleasant beneath the surface. Famous fixed phrases include 'gilded youth' (rich young people enjoying privileged lives) and 'the Gilded Age' (a period of rapid wealth growth in late-19th-century America).