: a very malleable metallic chemical element with atomic number 47 that is capable of a high degree of polish, has the highest thermal and electric conductivity of any substance, and that is used especially in jewelry and tableware, in electronics, and as an antimicrobial see Chemical Elements Table
2
: silver as a commodity
the value of silver has risen
3
: coin made of silver
4
: articles (such as hollowware or table flatware) made of or plated with silver
also: similar articles and especially flatware of other metals (such as stainless steel)
Noun a bracelet made of silver an artist who works in silver and gold a wooden statue inlaid with silver We need to polish the silver. Adjective a dress trimmed with silver ribbon a distinguished-looking gentleman with silver hair Verb The surface of the lake was silvered by the moonlight. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In 1891, as populists agitated to flood the country’s monetary system with silver—to inflate away the debt burden on Western and Southern Democrats—Cleveland issued an open letter warning of the policy’s potentially ruinous effects. Troy Senik, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 This is packed with linoleic acid, oat kernel, and silver mushroom to soothe and nourish skin. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2022 Created by Norman Hartnell, it was embroidered with silver and pearls and paid homage to the national emblems of Great Britain and the countries of the Commonwealth. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 The Stamos party happened to be on the same flight out of Munich with U.S. players, and Gregory remembers hearing players, who had refused to accept the silver medals, letting out cuss words over and over. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 10 Sep. 2022 This ear cuff is handmade with recycled silver and offers many possibilities as far as earrings go. Martha Sorren, Woman's Day, 17 Aug. 2022 That’s two straight silver medals at the World Athletics Championships and helps erase the bitter taste from finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics last summer … by 1¼ inches. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 July 2022 Winger has made two world finals – eighth in 2015, fifth in 2019 – and won Pan American Games gold and silver medals. David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 18 July 2022 Booth-Mitchell earned state silver medals in the 100 and 200. Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2022
Adjective
Even trends spotted on the VOGUE World: New York runway made their debut on the street style scene, from a retro houndstooth blazer to a metallic moment seen on Kendall Jenner courtesy of Khaite’s silver hobo bag. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2022 Police on Thursday released photos of the vehicle believed to be involved in the collision, possibly a silver Volkswagen Touareg manufactured between 2004 and 2007.Anchorage Daily News, 15 Sep. 2022 Williams’s look was a hot pink suit worn with an embellished pink top and strappy silver heels. Tara Gonzalez, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Sep. 2022 The move comes 20 years after Israeli authorities first learned, via informants, that the silver coin had been discovered by antiquities looters in the Ella Valley, south of Jerusalem. Oscar Holland, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022 There is this dream of silver bullets in psychiatry and medicine. Jessica Ferri, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 To that end, the Touring now replaces the regular GT3's black exterior accents with silver window surrounds and a body-color lower front fascia. Mike Sutton, Car and Driver, 13 Sep. 2022 The brand is a popular choice among our panelists, with the silver collection reigning supreme for its exceptional comfort at a medium price point. Grace Wu, Good Housekeeping, 12 Sep. 2022 Sweeney stepped out solo on the red carpet tonight wearing a silver floral Oscar de la Renta gown. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 12 Sep. 2022
Verb
Meinhardt’s wife, Lee Kiefer, won gold in women’s foil, and Imboden’s girlfriend, Ysaora Thibus, helped France to silver in the women’s team. David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2021 Imboden’s partner, Ysaora Thibus, helped France to silver in the women’s team foil. Rachel Axon, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Aug. 2021 The United States' Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell rallied to silver with a score of 310.80 and Mexico's Gabriela Agundez Garcia and Alejandra Orozco Loza took bronze with a score of 299.70. Brian Munoz, USA TODAY, 29 July 2021 Her routine earlier in Tokyo earned her a score of 15.4, the highest anyone has received so far, and stepped up to lead Team USA to silver with an unexpected floor routine when teammate Simone Biles pulled out of competition. Angela Vang/st. Paul, Time, 28 July 2021 The inside surface of this object is silvered and 100% reflective (or as close to it as practically possible).Quanta Magazine, 1 Apr. 2020 These 400 silvered glass panels, tucked into the western edge of that hot, hot desert, are there to generate heat 15 times that amount. Laura Mallonee, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020 The grass was silvered with dew, the tears of Aurora, in Roman mythology, the goddess of dawn who wept each sunrise for her dead son, Memnon. Maureen Stanton, Longreads, 17 Jan. 2020 His silvered-mirror furniture from the '30s and '40s is all the rage today, but eight years ago this bed ended up in a sleepy sale at Sotheby's. Frances Schultz, House Beautiful, 8 Nov. 2012 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English seolfor; akin to Old High German silbar silver, Lithuanian sidabras
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1