I. ˈgōldən adjective
( usually -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from gold (I) + -en
1.
a. : consisting of or relating to gold : made of gold
a purse with a golden frame — F.M.Stenton
b. : containing, bearing, or abounding in gold : auriferous
2.
a. : having the color of gold
golden grain
b. : blond — used of the color of hair
3. : having the luster or sheen of gold : shining , aureate
there is a golden brightness in the air — Amy Lowell
4. : characterized by a high degree of excellence : approaching a standard of perfection : superb
there was a quality of golden goodness about him — Willa Cather
5. : characterized by great prosperity, happiness, and achievement : flourishing , spacious
the world's great age begins anew, the golden years return — P.B.Shelley
the golden days of river steamboats — American Guide Series: Arkansas
6.
a. : radiant, youthful, or vigorous in person or manner
golden lads and girls all must, as chimney sweepers, come to dust — Shakespeare
b. : colorful and successful especially in athletics : possessed of a variety of talents that promise worldly success : popular and charming : white-headed — often used with boy
the golden boys of the airlines
a golden boy who comes to dust — New Republic
7. : constituting or yielding wealth : profitable
Pakistan's golden fiber, jute — William Costello
8. : highly favorable : opportunely advantageous
the first affirmative speaker in a debate has a golden opportunity to influence the audience — A.T.Weaver
if management fails to step in to fill their needs it passes up a golden opportunity — Bruce Payne
had the golden opportunity to utilize a famous squelch — Bennett Cerf
golden opportunities for anyone with some originality — W.H.Dowdeswell
9. : of, relating to, or marking a 50th anniversary
10. : rich and mellow in timbre or resonance
the song of the wood thrush is more golden and leisurely — John Burroughs
had a smooth golden tenor — Current Biography
• gold·en·ly adverb
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to make golden in color
a full moon … goldened the road — Edward Kimbrough
intransitive verb
: to take on a golden color
the pumpkin ripened and goldened — J.M.Neale