silver
gb/sˈɪlvɚ/ us/sˈɪlvɚ/
A2
English
~ 2800
ezüst, ezüstszín, ezüstszínű, ezüstözött, ezüstöz
NOUN
A2
1
ezüst
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] made of silver
The necklace was made of pure silver.
A nyaklánc tiszta ezüstből készült.
Silver is often used to make fine cutlery.
Az ezüstöt gyakran használják minőségi evőeszközök készítéséhez.
Prices for silver have risen in recent years.
She polished the silver until it gleamed.
Learner examples
I have a silver ring.
Van egy ezüstgyűrűm.
The spoon is made of silver.
A kanál ezüstből készült.
Silver is a shiny metal.
He bought a silver coin.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'silver' the metal with the color 'silver'. Context usually makes the difference clear.
Meaning
A shiny gray-white metal
Collocations
sterling silver
|silver coin
|silver necklace
|silver ring
|pure silver
Synonyms
argent (More formal or literary term for silver, rarely used in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
gold (Another precious metal of a different color and value.)
Themes
materials
|economy
|jewelry
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A shiny, gray-white metal used to make jewelry, coins, and other objects.
A chemical element with the symbol Ag, valued for its shiny gray-white appearance and used in jewelry, coins, and industry.
NOUN
A2
2
ezüstszín
A2
ezüstszínű
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] is silver
Her hair had turned silver with age.
A haja az évek során ezüstszínűre őszült.
The new sports car was painted silver.
Az új sportautót ezüstszínűre festették.
He wore a silver jacket to the party.
Learner examples
My car is silver.
Az autóm ezüstszínű.
Her hair is silver now.
Most már ezüstszínű a haja.
The dress is silver.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'silver' as a color with 'gray'. Silver has a shinier, metallic look.
Meaning
A light gray metallic color
Collocations
silver hair
|silver car
|silver dress
Synonyms
grayish-white (Describes the same hue but without the metallic quality.)
Antonyms
golden (Refers to a yellow metallic color instead of gray.)
Themes
colors
|design
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A light gray color that looks like the metal silver.
A pale gray color with a metallic sheen, similar to that of silver metal.
A2
3
ezüst
A2
ezüstözött
B2
Usage pattern:
a silver [object]
He gave her a silver bracelet for her birthday.
Ezüstkarkötőt adott neki a születésnapjára.
They served tea in silver cups.
Ezüstcsészékben szolgálták fel a teát.
The trophy was mounted on a silver base.
Learner examples
I have a silver watch.
Van egy ezüstből készült karórám.
She wears a silver ring.
Ezüstgyűrűt visel.
The fork is silver.
Meaning
Made of or coated with silver
Collocations
silver spoon
|silver bracelet
|silver plate
Synonyms
silvery (Can refer both to being made of silver and to having its appearance.)
Antonyms
wooden (Made of wood instead of metal.)
Themes
materials
|jewelry
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Made from or covered with the metal silver.
Made from or covered in the precious metal silver.
VERB
B2
4
ezüstöz
B2
Usage pattern:
to silver [something]
They silvered the mirror to improve its reflection.
Ezüstözték a tükröt, hogy javítsák a fényvisszaverő képességét.
The craftsman silvers fine cutlery by hand.
A mesterember kézzel ezüstözi a minőségi evőeszközöket.
These ornaments are silvered for a festive look.
Learner examples
The company will silver the mirror.
A cég ezüstözni fogja a tükröt.
He wants to silver the cup.
Ezüstözni szeretné a csészét.
We will silver the frame.
Meaning
To coat with silver metal
Collocations
silver plate
|silvered glass
Synonyms
plate (When used alone, can mean to coat with any metal, not just silver.)
Antonyms
strip (To remove a coating from something.)
Themes
manufacturing
|crafts
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To cover something with a thin layer of the metal silver.
To apply a layer of silver to the surface of an object, usually for decorative or protective purposes.
Grammar
Dictionary form
silver
IPA
GB/sˈɪlvɚ/
US/sˈɪlvɚ/
Syllables & stress
sil - ver (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sil)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: silver
Noun
- Base: silver
- Plural: silver
Verb
- Base: silver
- 3rd Person Singular: silvers
- Present Participle: silvering
- Past: silvered
Word family
Forms
silvers
verb
silvering
verb
silvered
verb
Core family
silvery
adjective B2
Related words
silverware
noun A2
silversmith
noun
Expressions
born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
1/bˈɔɹn wˈɪθ ə sˈɪlvɚ spˈun ˈɪn wˈʌnz mˈaʊθ/
idiom
Born into wealth and privilege
To be born into a rich family and have an easy life from birth.
Examples
- She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and never had to work.
- He may seem successful, but remember he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
on a silver platter
1/ˈɔn ə sˈɪlvɚ plˈætɚ/
idiom
Given without effort from you
Given to you easily without you having to work for it.
Examples
- He got the promotion on a silver platter because his father owns the company.
- Opportunities like this won’t come on a silver platter.
every cloud has a silver lining
1/ˈɛvɹi klˈaʊd hˈæz ə sˈɪlvɚ lˈaɪnɪŋ/
idiom
Good in bad situations
There is something good in every bad situation.
Examples
- I lost my job but found a better one; every cloud has a silver lining.
- I lost my job, but I found a better one—every cloud has a silver lining.
- Even though she failed the exam, it gave her motivation to study harder—every cloud has a silver lining.
- Even though it rained on our wedding day, we got amazing photos—every cloud has a silver lining.