silvery
gb/sˈɪlvɚi/ us/sˈɪlvɚi/
B2
English
~ 8200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
having a silver-like color or shine
Looking light gray-white and shiny, like the metal silver.
Usage pattern:
silvery [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes only use 'silver' as an adjective and do not use 'silvery'. Use 'silvery' when you want to describe the look and shine of something in a more descriptive or poetic way, especially in nature, hair, or light (e.g. 'silvery moon', 'silvery water').
Synonyms
silver (Can mean made of silver or just the color; 'silvery' focuses more on appearance and shine, often in a poetic way.)
Antonyms
dull (Describes something without shine or brightness, the opposite of a bright, silvery look.)
Collocations
silvery hair
|silvery light
|silvery moon
|silvery water
|silvery scales
Themes
appearance
|colors
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her long silvery hair shone in the sunlight.
- The lake turned a soft, silvery color at dusk.
- A thin silvery mist covered the fields in the early morning.
- The fish flashed their silvery bodies as they jumped from the water.
- Moonlight painted a silvery path across the sea.
Learner examples
- He has short silvery hair now.
- The river looked silvery in the moonlight.
- A silvery cloud moved across the dark sky.
- I saw a small bird with silvery feathers.
- The metal had a clean, silvery surface.
adjective
C1
property
2
having a light, clear, bell-like sound
Sounding light, clear, and high, like small bells or a soft bell.
Usage pattern:
silvery [voice/sound/laughter/notes]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'silvery voice' refers to the color of something, not the sound. In this meaning, 'silvery' always describes how something sounds, not how it looks.
Synonyms
bell-like (Focuses directly on similarity to a bell; 'silvery' suggests both clarity and a delicate, pretty quality.)
Antonyms
harsh (Describes a sound that is rough or unpleasant, the opposite of the gentle, clear quality of a silvery sound.)
Collocations
silvery voice
|silvery laughter
|silvery notes
|silvery tones
|silvery bells
Themes
sound
|art
|emotions
|communication
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her silvery voice carried easily across the crowded room.
- The child's silvery laughter echoed down the hallway.
- A few silvery notes from the flute floated through the open window.
- He loved the silvery tones of the small church bells.
- The singer's silvery soprano blended perfectly with the orchestra.
Learner examples
- The girl had a soft, silvery voice.
- We heard the silvery sound of small bells.
- Her silvery laughter made everyone smile.
- The music began with a few silvery notes from a flute.
- The wind made a silvery noise in the chimes.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
containing much silver as a metal
Having a lot of the metal silver inside, for example in rock or metal material.
Usage pattern:
silvery [ore/deposit/vein/mineral]
Synonyms
silver-rich (More directly technical; 'silvery' is slightly broader and may suggest both composition and appearance.)
Antonyms
barren (In geology, describes rock with no useful metal, the opposite of rock that is silvery (rich in silver).)
Collocations
silvery ore
|silvery deposits
|silvery veins
|silvery mineral
|silvery metal
Themes
science
|technology
|industry
|nature
Examples
- Miners followed the silvery veins running through the mountain rock.
- The region is known for its silvery ore, which has been worked for centuries.
- Geologists reported a new layer of silvery deposits beneath the old mine.
- They discovered a silvery mineral that could be processed for industrial use.
- The company invested heavily after tests confirmed a thick band of silvery rock.
Learner examples
- The mine has silvery ore under the ground.
- They found silvery rock in the old tunnel.
- This area has many silvery deposits.
- The workers followed the silvery vein in the stone.
- The silvery metal in the rock can be sold.
Grammar
Dictionary form
silvery
IPA
GB/sˈɪlvɚi/
US/sˈɪlvɚi/
Syllables & stress
sil - very (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sil)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: silvery
Word family
Core family
silver
noun A2
Related words
silverware
noun A2
Advanced or less common
silversmith
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.