/ ˈsɪlvə(r); NAmE / noun , adjective , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] ( symb Ag ) a chemical element. Silver is a greyish-white precious metal used for making coins, jewellery, decorative objects, etc. :
a silver chain
made of solid silver
a silver mine
2.
[ U ] coins that are made of silver or a metal that looks like silver :
I need £2 in silver for the parking meter.
3.
[ U ] dishes, decorative objects, etc. that are made of silver :
They've had to sell the family silver to pay the bills.
4.
[ U ] a shiny greyish-white colour
—see also silvery
5.
[ U , C ] = silver medal :
She won silver in last year's championships.
The team won two silvers and a bronze.
•
IDIOMS
- on a silver platter
—more at born , cloud noun , cross verb
■ adjective
shiny greyish-white in colour :
a silver car
silver hair
—see also silvery
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
[ usually passive ] to cover the surface of sth with a thin layer of silver or sth that looks like silver
2.
(especially literary ) to make sth become bright like silver :
Moonlight was silvering the countryside.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English seolfor , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zilver and German Silber .