silver

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English seolfor; akin to Old High German silbar silver, Lithuanian sidabras Date: before 12th century 1. a white ductile very malleable metallic element that is capable of a high degree of polish, is chiefly monovalent in compounds, and has the highest thermal and electric conductivity of any substance — see element table 2. silver as a commodity <

the value of silver has risen

> 3. coin made of silver 4. articles (as hollowware or table flatware) made of or plated with silver; also similar articles and especially flatware of other metals (as stainless steel) 5. a nearly neutral slightly brownish medium gray 6. coho 7. a silver medal awarded as the second prize in a competiton II. adjective Date: before 12th century 1. made of silver 2. resembling silver: as a. (1) having a white lustrous sheen (2) of or tending towards the color silver <

silver fur

> <

a silver gray

> b. giving a soft resonant sound ; dulcet in tone c. eloquently persuasive 3. consisting of or yielding silver 4. of, relating to, or characteristic of silver 5. advocating the use of silver as a standard of currency 6. of, relating to, or being a 25th anniversary or its celebration III. transitive verb (silvered; silvering) Date: 14th century 1. a. to cover with silver (as by electroplating) b. to coat with a substance (as a metal) resembling silver 2. a. to give a silvery luster to b. to make white like silver • silverer noun