silver
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a shiny, expensive, grey-white metal used to make jewellery, coins, and mirrors.
n.a lustrous, white, metallic chemical element (symbol Ag) valued for its conductivity and aesthetic appeal in jewellery and currency.
Simple“She wore a beautiful necklace made of pure silver.”
In context“The artisan specialised in working with sterling silver, creating intricate filigree patterns that were highly sought after by collectors.”
Synonymsag - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.spoons, forks, and knives used for eating, even if they are not made of real silver.
n.a collective term for cutlery, tableware, and other eating utensils, regardless of their actual metallic composition.
Simple“We only use the good silver when we have guests for dinner.”
In context“The butler spent the afternoon polishing the family silver in preparation for the formal banquet.”
Synonyms - 03 A2 Elementary
n.a shiny, light grey colour like the metal silver.
n.a metallic, lustrous grey colour resembling the appearance of polished silver.
Simple“The car was painted a bright, metallic silver.”
In context“The moonlight turned the surface of the lake into a shimmering sheet of silver.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
n.a medal given to the person who finishes in second place in a race or competition.
n.a medal made of or coloured like silver, awarded to the runner-up in a sporting event or competition.
Simple“The swimmer was disappointed to win the silver instead of the gold.”
In context“After a photo finish, the judges confirmed that the local athlete had secured the silver by a fraction of a second.”
- 05 A2 Elementary
adj.made from the metal silver.
adj.composed of or plated with the metallic element silver.
Simple“He gave her a small silver ring for her birthday.”
In context“The museum displayed a collection of ancient silver coins recovered from a shipwreck in the Mediterranean.”
- 06 B1 Intermediate
adj.used to describe the 25th anniversary of an event, especially a wedding.
adj.denoting the twenty-fifth anniversary of a significant event, most commonly a marriage.
Simple“My parents are celebrating their silver wedding anniversary this year.”
In context“The couple hosted a grand gala to commemorate their silver jubilee, inviting friends from across the country.”
Synonymstwenty fifth - 07 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to older people, often because of their grey or white hair.
adj.pertaining to senior citizens or the elderly, often used in economic or demographic contexts.
Simple“The government is discussing the growth of the silver economy.”
In context“Economists are increasingly focused on the silver market as the aging population gains more significant purchasing power.”
- 08 C2 Proficiency
v.to become grey or white, usually talking about someone's hair as they get older.
v.to become silvery or grey in appearance; specifically used in reference to hair whitening due to age.
Simple“His hair began to silver at the temples when he reached his fifties.”
In context“As the years passed, his once-dark beard began to silver, giving him a distinguished and scholarly appearance.”
Synonymsgreywhiten
Usage silver lining · silver medallist
As a surname, anglicised from the German Jewish ornamental surname Silber.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.