silver
gb/sˈɪlvɚ/ us/sˈɪlvɚ/
A2
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A shiny gray-white metal
A shiny, gray-white metal used to make jewelry, coins, and other objects.
Usage pattern:
[something] made of silver
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'silver' the metal with the color 'silver'. Context usually makes the difference clear.
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.)
Collocations
sterling silver
|silver coin
|silver necklace
|silver ring
|pure silver
Themes
materials
|economy
|jewelry
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The necklace was made of pure silver.
- Silver is often used to make fine cutlery.
- Prices for silver have risen in recent years.
- She polished the silver until it gleamed.
Learner examples
- I have a silver ring.
- The spoon is made of silver.
- Silver is a shiny metal.
- He bought a silver coin.
Noun
A2
property
2
A light gray metallic color
A light gray color that looks like the metal silver.
Usage pattern:
[something] is silver
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'silver' as a color with 'gray'. Silver has a shinier, metallic look.
Synonyms
grayish-white (Describes the same hue but without the metallic quality.)
Antonyms
golden (Refers to a yellow metallic color instead of gray.)
Collocations
silver hair
|silver car
|silver dress
Themes
colors
|design
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her hair had turned silver with age.
- The new sports car was painted silver.
- He wore a silver jacket to the party.
Learner examples
- My car is silver.
- Her hair is silver now.
- The dress is silver.
adjective
A2
property
3
Made of or coated with silver
Made from or covered with the metal silver.
Usage pattern:
a silver [object]
Synonyms
silvery (Can refer both to being made of silver and to having its appearance.)
Antonyms
wooden (Made of wood instead of metal.)
Collocations
silver spoon
|silver bracelet
|silver plate
Themes
materials
|jewelry
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He gave her a silver bracelet for her birthday.
- They served tea in silver cups.
- The trophy was mounted on a silver base.
Learner examples
- I have a silver watch.
- She wears a silver ring.
- The fork is silver.
Verb
B2
action
4
To coat with silver metal
To cover something with a thin layer of the metal silver.
Usage pattern:
to silver [something]
Synonyms
plate (When used alone, can mean to coat with any metal, not just silver.)
Antonyms
strip (To remove a coating from something.)
Collocations
silver plate
|silvered glass
Themes
manufacturing
|crafts
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They silvered the mirror to improve its reflection.
- The craftsman silvers fine cutlery by hand.
- These ornaments are silvered for a festive look.
Learner examples
- The company will silver the mirror.
- He wants to silver the cup.
- We will silver the frame.
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.