gild
/ɡɪld/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡɪld/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgild/ (ame, mw)
gild — 動詞
- gildpresent simple I / you / we / they
- gildshe / she / it
- gildedpast simple
- gilding-ing form
1. to add a thin outer coating of gold or a gold-coloured substance to the surface
鍍金
在物體表面覆蓋一層薄金或金色物質
to add a thin outer coating of gold or a gold-coloured substance to the surface of an object, so that it shines or looks precious.
The artisan spent the whole afternoon carefully gilding the wooden picture frame with real gold leaf.
那位工匠花了一整個下午，用真正的金箔為木製畫框小心地鍍金。
gild + object (picture frame) + with [material]
A team of restorers was brought in to gild the worn-out dome of the old town hall.
一組修復師被請來為舊市政廳磨損的圓頂鍍金。
passive: the dome was gilded by restorers
The museum entrance hall featured a gilded ceiling with sparkling stars painted between the gold panels.
博物館入口大廳有一個鍍金天花板，金色面板之間畫著閃亮的星星。
Before the royal wedding, craftsmen gilded the edges of the invitation cards with a fine gold powder.
皇家婚禮前，工匠們用細緻的金粉為邀請卡的邊緣鍍金。
The Wang family commissioned a local jeweler to gild their antique tea set for the exhibition.
Wang 家委託一位當地珠寶匠為他們的古董茶具鍍金，以便在展覽中展出。
- gold-plate
refers specifically to electroplating with a thin layer of gold, used for jewellery and electronics
- gilt
used as an adjective or noun for gold-coloured coating; e.g. 'gilt buttons', 'a layer of gilt'
- tarnish
to lose shine or become dull, the opposite of adding a bright coating
文法句型
gild + object (usually a visible surface)
passive: be gilded with [material]
用法筆記
Often used as a past participle (gilded) to describe decorative surfaces: a gilded frame, a gilded statue. Distinguished from 'golden' (made of or resembling gold throughout) — gilded objects are only coated on the outside.
常見錯誤
2. to bathe or illuminate something in a warm, yellowish-gold light, so that it glo
染金；金光輝映
被金黃色光芒照亮或籠罩
to bathe or illuminate something in a warm, yellowish-gold light, so that it glows, especially during sunrise or sunset.
The setting sun gilded the rooftops of Florence, turning the whole city a soft amber colour.
夕陽為佛羅倫斯的屋頂染上金色，把整座城市變成柔和的琥珀色。
gilded by the setting sun — poetic light scene
Morning light gilded the snowy peaks of the mountains, making them glow against the blue sky.
晨光為雪白山巔染上金光，讓它們在藍天映襯下閃閃發亮。
The autumn sun gilded the fallen maple leaves, giving the park an almost magical atmosphere.
秋日的陽光把落葉染成金色，讓公園充滿了近乎夢幻的氛圍。
Warm light from the fireplace gilded the old wooden floorboards, creating a cosy evening scene.
壁爐的暖光為老舊的木地板染上金色，營造出溫馨的夜晚氣氛。
The photographer waited until the golden hour light gilded the bride's veil for the perfect portrait.
攝影師等到黃金時刻，陽光為新娘的頭紗染上金光，拍下了完美的肖像照。
- illuminate
broader meaning — to light up in any colour, not specifically golden
- bathe
a softer verb suggesting gentle, all-around coverage by light
- darken
to make or become dark, the opposite of filling with light
文法句型
gild + object (landscape, surface)
be gilded by [light source]
用法筆記
Predominantly literary or descriptive in tone. Most common in past-participle form describing landscapes or interiors bathed in warm light. Unlike sense 1, no actual gold is involved — the effect is purely visual.
常見錯誤
3. to make something appear more attractive, admirable, or successful than it reall
粉飾；美化
隱藏缺點，讓事物顯得更美好
to make something appear more attractive, admirable, or successful than it really is, usually by hiding its faults or exaggerating its good points — for example, a politician gilding a poor record with grand but hollow promises.
The company tried to gild its falling sales by highlighting one small success in its annual report.
該公司試圖在年報中只強調一項小小的成功，藉此粉飾其下滑的銷售業績。
gild + sales report — corporate spin
Critics said the biography gilded the writer's troubled childhood, skipping over the painful episodes.
評論家說這本傳記美化了作家坎坷的童年，跳過了那些痛苦的情節。
Politicians often gild their campaign promises, sounding far more certain than the facts allow.
政治人物經常美化他們的競選承諾，聽起來比實際情況確定得多。
The menu description tried to gild a simple grilled chicken by calling it 'free-range poussin in a champagne jus'.
菜單上的說明試圖將簡單的烤雞美化成『香檳醬汁自由放養春雞』。
The developer's website gilded the dreary apartment block with phrases like 'boutique city living' and 'exclusive waterfront access'.
建商的網站用『精品都會生活』和『獨家水岸景觀』等說法，粉飾那棟乏善可陳的公寓大樓。
文法句型
gild + object (reputation, image, report)
gild + object + with + [attractive quality]
用法筆記
This sense is always critical — it describes deception or exaggeration, never genuine improvement. Distinguish from 'embellish' (which can be neutral, as in embellishing a story for entertainment) and 'improve' (which is positive). Frequently appears in discussions of public relations, advertising, and political communication.
常見錯誤
gild — 名詞
1. an organization formed by people who share the same trade, profession, or intere
同業公會
相同行業人士的協會（guild古拼）
an organization formed by people who share the same trade, profession, or interest, who join together to protect their common goals and set standards — an older spelling of the modern word 'guild'.
In medieval Europe, a merchant gild controlled the prices and quality of goods sold within a town.
在中世紀的歐洲，商人同業公會控制著城鎮內商品的價格和品質。
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in London began as a gild of skilled metalworkers in the 14th century.
倫敦的「金匠榮譽公司」始於14世紀，最初是一個技術精湛的金屬工匠同業公會。
gild + of [profession] — historical context
Each craft gild in the old city had its own hall where members trained new apprentices.
舊城裡的每個手工業同業公會都有自己的會館，供會員培訓新學徒。
The Miller family has belonged to the same weavers' gild for five generations.
Miller 家加入同一個織工同業公會已有五代之久。
- guild
the modern standard spelling of the same word
- association
broader meaning — any group formed for a shared purpose, not specific to trades
用法筆記
This is an archaic alternative spelling of 'guild'. In modern English, 'guild' is the standard form. You will encounter the spelling 'gild' mainly in historical texts, names of older institutions, and certain literary works. Do not use this spelling in modern writing unless quoting a historical source or a proper name that retains the old form.