gold
gold
/ɡəʊld/
1 uncountable (symbol Au) a chemical element. Gold is a yellow precious metal used for making coins, jewellery, beautiful objects, etc. gold coins/jewellery
He always wore a gold chain.
a gold ring/watch/necklace/bracelet
a fall in the gold price
The rubies were set in 18-carat gold.
made of solid/pure gold
He spent weeks panning for gold in the river.
In the afternoon he struck a rich vein of gold.
Collocations
adjective
verb + gold
gold + noun
phrases
a vein of gold
2 uncountable money, jewellery, etc. that is made of gold The hotel was dripping with (= decorated with a lot of) gold.
They're stockpiling dollars the way nations used to hoard gold.
the country’s gold reserves
falling government gold stocks
The team look set to win Olympic gold.
He won three golds and a bronze.
She got a gold in the long jump.
She's going for gold this time.
Collocations
adjective
verb + gold
a sunset of burnished gold
His hair was a pale gold.
I love the reds and golds of autumn.
Idioms
all that glitters/glistens/glisters is not gold
(saying) not everything that seems good, attractive, etc. is actually good, etc.
a crock/pot of gold
a large prize or reward that somebody hopes for but is unlikely to get
(as) good as gold
(informal) behaving in a way that other people approve of
The kids have been as good as gold all day.
have a heart of gold
to be a very kind person
TOPICS Personal qualitiesC2
the streets are paved with gold
(saying) used to say that it seems easy to make money in a place
strike gold
to find or do something that brings you a lot of success or money
He has struck gold with his latest novel.
TOPICS SuccessC2
worth your/its weight in gold
very useful or valuable
A good mechanic is worth his weight in gold.
Word Origin
Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch goud and German Gold, from an Indo-European root shared by yellow.