Word
silverware
Phoneticssil·ver·ware, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɪɫvɝˌwɛɹ/
UK/sˈɪlvəwˌeə/
Uncountable noun
Definition
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.
Examples
“Please help me set the table with the silverware.”
“After a decade without a title, the team is desperate to bring some silverware back to their home stadium this season.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
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.
Etymology
From silver + -ware.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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