gilt
/ɡɪlt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡɪlt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgilt/ (ame, mw)
gilt — adjective
- giltpositive
- giltercomparative
- giltestsuperlative
1. decorated on the outside with a fine coating of either real gold or a gold-colou
decorated on the outside with a fine coating of either real gold or a gold-coloured material.
Manuela found a beautiful gilt mirror at the antique market.
gilt + noun (mirror / frame / cabinet)
The old dining table had gilt edges that had faded over the years.
Élise chose a gilt picture frame to match the warm colours in the room.
A row of gilt chairs stood against the wall of the royal hall.
- gilded
can be used both before a noun and after a linking verb, whereas 'gilt' is attributive only
- gold-plated
implies a thicker layer of actual gold applied by electroplating, not just a decorative coating
文法句型
gilt + noun
用法筆記
Used only before a noun — you cannot say 'the mirror is gilt'. Use 'gilded' instead in predicative position.
常見錯誤
gilt — noun
1. an extremely thin covering of precious metal — usually gold, but sometimes silve
an extremely thin covering of precious metal — usually gold, but sometimes silver — applied to an object's surface to make it look more beautiful or costly.
The craftsman carefully applied the gilt to the edges of the wooden picture frame.
the gilt + applied to + noun (surface)
Over many decades, the gilt on the old clock had mostly worn away.
the gilt on + noun (wears away / fades / peels)
Obi bought a silver teapot, but the gilt on the handle was already chipped.
The antique dealer noticed small cracks running through the gilt on the mirror surface.
文法句型
the gilt on + noun
gilt + verb
用法筆記
Cannot be counted — you do not say 'a gilt' to mean a coating. Use 'a layer of gilt' or 'a coat of gilt' for countable references.
2. a bond sold by the British government that gives buyers a set yearly interest pa
a bond sold by the British government that gives buyers a set yearly interest payment and is regarded as a very safe way to invest money.
Darius put half of his retirement savings into UK government gilts.
invest in + gilts / put money into + gilts
Gilts are popular among older investors because they offer steady income.
gilts + offer / provide / pay (fixed return)
The pension fund manager added long-term gilts to reduce the overall risk of the portfolio.
Christopher decided to sell some gilts early when interest rates began to rise sharply.
- gilt-edged securities
the full formal name, from the gold-edged certificate design
- government bonds
a more general term used internationally; UK gilts are a specific type of government bond
- junk bonds
high-risk bonds that pay higher interest, opposite of gilts on the risk spectrum
文法句型
invest in gilts
gilts + verb
用法筆記
This meaning is almost exclusively used in British financial English. In other countries the equivalent is called 'government bonds' or 'treasury bonds'. Usually appears in the plural form 'gilts'.