I. ˈsil-vər noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English seolfor; akin to Old High German silbar silver, Lithuanian sidabras
Date: before 12th century
1. : a white ductile very malleable metallic element that is capable of a high degree of polish, is chiefly monovalent in compounds, and has the highest thermal and electric conductivity of any substance — see element table
2. : silver as a commodity
the value of silver has risen
3. : coin made of silver
4. : articles (as hollowware or table flatware) made of or plated with silver ; also : similar articles and especially flatware of other metals (as stainless steel)
5. : a nearly neutral slightly brownish medium gray
6. : coho
7. : a silver medal awarded as the second prize in a competiton
II. adjective
Date: before 12th century
1. : made of silver
2. : resembling silver: as
a.
(1) : having a white lustrous sheen
(2) : of or tending towards the color silver
silver fur
a silver gray
b. : giving a soft resonant sound : dulcet in tone
c. : eloquently persuasive
3. : consisting of or yielding silver
4. : of, relating to, or characteristic of silver
5. : advocating the use of silver as a standard of currency
6. : of, relating to, or being a 25th anniversary or its celebration
III. transitive verb
( sil·vered ; sil·ver·ing ˈsil-v(ə-)riŋ)
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : to cover with silver (as by electroplating)
b. : to coat with a substance (as a metal) resembling silver
2.
a. : to give a silvery luster to
b. : to make white like silver
• sil·ver·er ˈsil-vər-ər noun