ENGLISH
REFERENCE

silverware

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈsɪɫvɝˌwɛɹ// UK //sˈɪlvəwˌeə// sil·ver·ware

n. the knives, forks, and spoons you use for eating. It can also refer to objects made of silver, like bowls or trophies.

n. knives, forks, and spoons used for eating and serving food; also refers to decorative or functional objects made of silver. In a sporting context, it is used metonymically to refer to trophies or championship cups.


SIMPLE

Please help me set the table with the silverware.

CONTEXTUAL

After a decade without a title, the team is desperate to bring some silverware back to their home stadium this season.

COMPLEX

The museum's collection includes ornate 18th-century silverware that demonstrates the incredible craftsmanship of the era, though most pieces were clearly designed for display rather than daily use.

Origin

From silver + -ware.

Usage

Typically used as a collective noun for eating utensils in North American English; in British English, 'cutlery' is more common for utensils, while 'silverware' refers to silver items.

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