: an association of people with similar interests or pursuits
especially: a medieval association of merchants or craftsmen
2
: a group of organisms that use the same ecological resource in a similar way
a feeding guild
Phrases
gild the lily
: to add unnecessary ornamentation to something beautiful in its own right
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
To gild the lily for this recipe, some warm spices and musky lime zest tie it all together. Christian Reynoso, Bon Appétit, 25 July 2022 Political candidates often gild their story and, so far, in the race for the Republican Senate nomination with the backing of former President Donald Trump, Walker’s troubled background, falsehoods and contradictions have not carried a price. Brian Slodysko, ajc, 21 May 2022 Not afraid to gild the lily, Diner Grill’s cooks top the whole affair with a shimmering lava flow of chili and two eggs sunny side up. Adam Lukach, chicagotribune.com, 4 Mar. 2022 Just to gild the lily, there’s one more stat to add to the staggering list. Chris Willman, Variety, 21 Oct. 2021 The brand’s very first frame, also an 18-karat piece, used gold for its functional and non-reactive properties, as in dentistry, rather than to gild the face. Alexander Freeling, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2021 It’s no longer enough to just gild the lily; the lily must now be ballyhooed as a veritable garden, in full bloom.BostonGlobe.com, 9 July 2021 But the up-to-the-minute plotlines gild what insiders say has been a very tumultuous time.Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2020 The sauce should gild, not asphyxiate, the noodles. Saveur Editors, Saveur, 30 May 2017 See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Old English gyldan; akin to Old English gold gold