I. sil ‧ ver 1 S3 /ˈsɪlvə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: seolfor ]
1 . [uncountable] a valuable shiny, light grey metal that is used to make jewellery, knives, coins etc. It is a chemical ↑ element : symbol Ag:
a silver necklace
cups made of solid silver
2 . [uncountable] spoons, forks, dishes etc that are made of silver SYN silverware :
It was my job to polish the silver.
3 . [uncountable and countable] the colour of silver:
The lake sparkled with shades of blue and silver.
This season’s colours are rich golds and elegant silvers.
4 . [uncountable and countable] informal a ↑ silver medal :
He won a silver at the last Olympics.
5 . [uncountable] British English coins that contain silver or are the colour of silver:
He put his hand into his pocket and brought out a handful of silver.
II. silver 2 BrE AmE adjective
1 . made of silver:
a silver teapot
a silver coin
a solid silver brooch
2 . having the colour of silver:
an old man with silver hair
3 . on a silver platter if something is given to you on a silver platter, you do not have to make any effort to get it:
He had a scholarship handed to him on a silver platter.
4 . silver bullet American English something that solves a difficult problem very quickly and easily:
There is no silver bullet for this problem.
⇨ be born with a silver spoon in your mouth at ↑ born 2 (8), ⇨ every cloud has a silver lining at ↑ cloud 1 (6)
III. silver 3 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . technical to cover a surface with a thin shiny layer of silver or another metal in order to make a mirror
2 . literary to make something shine and look the colour of silver:
The farmhouse appeared, silvered by the moon.