The Wordsmith Dictionary

Sil "ver, n. Etym: [OE. silver, selver, seolver, AS. seolfor, siolfur,siolufr, silofr, sylofr; akin to OS. silubar, OFries. selover, D. zilver, LG. sulver, OHG. silabar, silbar, G. silber, Icel. silfr, Sw. silfver, Dan. sölv, Goth. silubr, Russ. serebro, Lith. sidabras; of unknown origin. ]

1. (Chem. )

Defn: A soft white metallic element, sonorous, ductile, very malleable, and capable of a high degree of polish. It is found native, and also combined with sulphur, arsenic, antimony, chlorine, etc. , in the minerals argentite, proustite, pyrargyrite, ceragyrite,etc. Silver is one of the "noble " metals, so-called, not being easily oxidized, and is used for coin, jewelry, plate, and a great variety of articles. Symbol Ag (Argentum ). Atomic weight 1 7.7. Specific gravity 1 .5.

Note: Silver was known under the name of luna to the ancients and also to the alchemists. Some of its compounds, as the halogen salts, are remarkable for the effect of light upon them, and are used in photography.

2. Coin made of silver; silver money.

3. Anything having the luster or appearance of silver.

4. The color of silver.

Note: Silver is used in the formation of many compounds of obvious meaning; as, silver-armed, silver-bright, silver-buskined, silver- coated, silver-footed, silver-haired, silver-headed, silver-mantled, silver-plated, silver-slippered, silver-sounding, silver-studded,silver-tongued, silver-white. See Silver, a. Black silver (Min. ), stephanite; -- called also brittle silver ore, or brittle silver glance. -- Fulminating silver. (Chem. ) (a ) A black crystalline substance, Ag2O.(NH3 )2, obtained by dissolving silver oxide in aqua ammonia. When dry it explodes violently on the slightest percussion. (b ) Silver fulminate, a white crystalline substance, Ag2C2N2O2, obtained by adding alcohol to a solution of silver nitrate. When dry it is violently explosive. -- German silver. (Chem. ) See under German. -- Gray silver. (Min. ) See Freieslebenite. -- Horn silver. (Min. ) See Cerargyrite. -- King's silver. (O. Eng. Law ) See Postfine. -- Red silver, or Ruby silver. (Min. ) See Proustite, and Pyrargyrite. -- Silver beater, one who beats silver into silver leaf or silver foil. -- Silver glance, or Vitreous silver. (Min. ) See Argentine.

SILVER

SILVER Sil "ver, a.

1. Of or pertaining to silver; made of silver; as, silver leaf; a silver cup.

2. Resembling silver. Specifically: (a ) Bright; resplendent; white. "Silver hair. " Shak. Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed Their downy breast. Milton.

(b ) Precious; costly. (c ) Giving a clear, ringing sound soft and clear. "Silver voices." Spenser. (d ) Sweet; gentle; peaceful. "Silver slumber. " Spenser. American silver fir (Bot. ), the balsam fir. See under Balsam. -- Silver age (Roman Lit. ), the latter part (a. d. 14 -18 ) of the classical period of Latinity, -- the time of writers of inferior purity of language, as compared with those of the previous golden age, so-called. -- Silver-bell tree (Bot. ), an American shrub or small tree (Halesia tetraptera ) with white bell-shaped flowers in clusters or racemes; the snowdrop tree. -- Silver bush (Bot. ), a shrubby leguminous plant (Anthyllis Barba- Jovis ) of Southern Europe, having silvery foliage. -- Silver chub (Zoöl.), the fallfish. -- Silver eel. (Zoöl.) (a ) The cutlass fish. (b ) A pale variety of the common eel. -- Silver fir (Bot. ), a coniferous tree (Abies pectinata ) found in mountainous districts in the middle and south of Europe, where it often grows to the height of 1 or 15 feet. It yields Burgundy pitch and Strasburg turpentine. -- Silver foil, foil made of silver. -- Silver fox (Zoöl.), a variety of the common fox (Vulpes vulpes, variety argenteus ) found in the northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America. Its fur is nearly black, with silvery tips, and is highly valued. Called also black fox, and silver-gray fox. -- Silver gar. (Zoöl.) See Billfish (a ) -- Silver grain (Bot. ), the lines or narrow plates of cellular tissue which pass from the pith to the bark of an exogenous stem; the medullary rays. In the wood of the oak they are much larger than in that of the beech, maple, pine, cherry, etc. -- Silver grebe (Zoöl.), the red-throated diver. See Illust. under Diver. -- Silver hake (Zoöl.), the American whiting. -- Silver leaf, leaves or sheets made of silver beaten very thin. -- Silver lunge (Zoöl.), the namaycush. -- Silver moonfish. (Zoöl.) See Moonfish (b ). -- Silver moth (Zoöl.), a lepisma. -- Silver owl (Zoöl.), the barn owl. -- Silver perch (Zoöl.), the mademoiselle, 2. -- Silver pheasant (Zoöl.), any one of several species of beautiful crested and long-tailed Asiatic pheasants, of the genus Euplocamus. They have the tail and more or less of the upper parts silvery white. The most common species (E. nychtemerus ) is native of China. -- Silver plate, domestic utensils made of silver. -- Silver plover (Zoöl.), the knot. -- Silver salmon (Zoöl.), a salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch ) native of both coasts of the North Pacific. It ascends all the American rivers as far south as the Sacramento. Called also kisutch, whitefish, and white salmon. -- Silver shell (Zoöl.), a marine bivalve of the genus Anomia. See Anomia. -- Silver steel, an alloy of steel with a very small proportion of silver. -- Silver stick, a title given to the title field officer of the Life Guards when on duty at the palace. [Eng. ] Thackeray. -- Silver tree (Bot. ), a South African tree (Leucadendron argenteum ) with long, silvery, silky leaves. -- Silver trout, (Zoöl.) See Trout. -- Silver wedding. See under Wedding. -- Silver whiting (Zoöl.), a marine sciænoid food fish (Menticirrus littoralis ) native of the Southern United States; -- called also surf whiting. -- Silver witch (Zoöl.), A lepisma.

SILVER

Sil "ver, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silvered; p. pr. & vb. n. Silvering. ]

1. To cover with silver; to give a silvery appearance to by applying a metal of a silvery color; as, to silver a pin; to silver a glass mirror plate with an amalgam of tin and mercury.

2. To polish like silver; to impart a brightness to, like that of silver. And smiling calmness silvered o'er the deep. Pope.

3. To make hoary, or white, like silver. His head was silvered o'er with age. Gay.

SILVER

SILVER Sil "ver, v. i.

Defn: To acquire a silvery color. [R.] The eastern sky began to silver and shine. L. Wallace.

SILVERBACK

SILVERBACK Sil "ver *back `, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The knot.

SILVERBERRY

SILVERBERRY Sil "ver *ber `ry, n. (Bot. )

Defn: A tree or shrub (Elæagnus argentea ) with silvery foliage and fruit. Gray.

SILVERBILL

SILVERBILL Sil "ver *bill `, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An Old World finch of the genus Minia, as the M. Malabarica of India, and M. cantans of Africa.

SILVERBOOM

Sil "ver *boom `, n. Etym: [D. zilver silver + boom tree. ] (Bot. )

Defn: See Leucadendron.

SILVER CERTIFICATE

SILVER CERTIFICATE Sil "ver cer *tif "i *cate.

Defn: A certificate issued by a government that there has been deposited with it silver to a specified amount, payable to the bearer on demand. In the United States and its possessions, it is issued against the deposit of silver coin, and is not legal tender, but is receivable for customs, taxes, and all public dues.

SILVERFIN

SILVERFIN Sil "ver *fin `, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small North American fresh-water cyprinoid fish (Notropis Whipplei ).

SILVERFISH

SILVERFISH Sil "ver *fish `, n. (Zoöl.)(a ) The tarpum. (b ) A white variety of the goldfish. Lepisma saccharina, which may infest houses, and eats starched clothing and sized papers. See Lepisma.

SILVER-GRAY

SILVER-GRAY Sil "ver-gray `, a.

Defn: Having a gray color with a silvery luster; as, silver-gray hair.

SILVERINESS

SILVERINESS Sil "ver *i *ness, n.

Defn: The state of being silvery.

SILVERING

SILVERING Sil "ver *ing, n. (Metal. )

Defn: The art or process of covering metals, wood, paper, glass, etc. , with a thin film of metallic silver, or a substance resembling silver; also, the firm do laid on; as, the silvering of a glass speculum.

SILVERITE

SILVERITE Sil "ver *ite, n.

Defn: One who favors the use or establishment of silver as a monetary standard; -- so called by those who favor the gold standard. [Colloq. or Cant ]

SILVERIZE

Sil "ver *ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silverized; p. pr. & vb. n.Silverizing.]

Defn: To cover with silver.

SILVERLESS

SILVERLESS Sil "ver *less, a.

Defn: Having no silcver; hence, without money; impecunious. Piers Plowman.

SILVERLING

SILVERLING Sil "ver *ling, n.

Defn: A small silver coin. [Obs. ] A thousand vines at a thousand silverings. Isa. vii. 23.

SILVERLY

SILVERLY Sil "ver *ly, adv.

Defn: Like silver in appearance or in sound. Let me wipe off this honorable dew, That silverly doth progress on thy cheeks. Shak.

SILVERN

Sil "vern, a. Etym: [AS. seolfern, sylfren.]

Defn: Made of silver. [Archaic. ] Wyclif (Acts xix. 24 ). Speech is silvern; silence is golden. Old Proverb.

SILVERSIDES

SILVERSIDES Sil "ver *sides `, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of small fishes of the family Atherinidæ, having a silvery stripe along each side of the body. The common species of the American coast (Menidia notata ) is very abundant. Called also silverside, sand smelt, friar, tailor, and tinker. Brook silversides (Zoöl.), a small fresh-water North American fish (Labadesthes sicculus ) related to the marine silversides.

SILVERSMITH

SILVERSMITH Sil "ver *smith `, n.

Defn: One whose occupation is to manufacture utensils, ornaments, etc. , of silver; a worker in silver.

SILVERSPOT

SILVERSPOT Sil "ver *spot `, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of butterflies of the genus Argynnis and allied genera, having silvery spots on the under side of the wings. See Illust. under Aphrodite.

SILVER STATE

SILVER STATE Silver State.

Defn: Nevada; -- a nickname alluding to its silver mines.

SILVERWARE

SILVERWARE Sil "ver *ware `, n.

Defn: Dishes, vases, ornaments, and utensils of various sorts, made of silver.

SILVERWEED

SILVERWEED Sil "ver *weed `, n. (Bot. )

Defn: A perennial rosaceous herb (Potentilla Anserina ) having the leaves silvery white beneath.

SILVERY

SILVERY Sil "ver *y, a.

1. Resembling, or having the luster of, silver; grayish white and lustrous; of a mild luster; bright. All the enameled race, whose silvery wing Waves to the tepid zephyrs of the spring. Pope.

2. Besprinkled or covered with silver.

3. Having the clear, musical tone of silver; soft and clear in sound; as, silvery voices; a silvery laugh. Silvery iron (Metal. ), a peculiar light-gray fine-grained cast iron, usually obtained from clay iron ore.

New American Oxford Dictionary

silver

sil ver |ˈsilvər ˈsɪlvər | ▶noun 1 a precious shiny grayish-white metal, the chemical element of atomic number 47. (Symbol: Ag ) A transition metal, silver is found in nature as the native metal as well as in combined form in ore minerals. It is valued for use in jewelry and other ornaments and formerly in coins, and the decomposition of silver salts by the action of light (depositing metallic silver ) is the basis of photography. 2 a shiny gray-white color or appearance like that of silver: the dark hair was now highlighted with silver. 3 silver dishes, containers, or cutlery: thieves stole $5,000 worth of silver | the family silver. • household cutlery of any material: it is important to wash table silver in hot soapy water immediately after each meal. 4 coins made from silver or from a metal that resembles silver. • chiefly Scottish money. 5 short for silver medal. ▶adjective [ attrib. ] denoting a twenty-fifth anniversary. ▶verb [ with obj. ] (often as adj. silvered ) coat or plate with silver: large silvered candlesticks. • provide (mirror glass ) with a backing of a silver-colored material in order to make it reflective. • literary (esp. of the moon ) give a silvery appearance to: the brilliant moon silvered the turf. • turn (a person's hair ) gray or white. • [ no obj. ] (of a person's hair ) turn gray or white. PHRASES be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth be born into a wealthy family of high social standing. every cloud has a silver lining proverb every difficult or sad situation has a comforting or more hopeful aspect even though this may not be immediately apparent. the silver screen the movie industry; movies collectively: stars of the silver screen. ORIGIN Old English seolfor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zilver and German Silber .

silver age

sil ver age ▶noun a period regarded as notable but inferior to a golden age: the age may in hindsight be seen as not entirely contemptible, perhaps even as a silver age.

silverback

sil ver back |ˈsilvərˌbak ˈsɪlvərbæk | ▶noun a mature male mountain gorilla, distinguished by an area of white or silvery hair across the back and acting as the dominant member of its social group.

silver band

sil ¦ver band ▶noun Brit. a brass band playing silver-plated instruments.

silverberry

sil ver ber ry |ˈsilvərˌberē ˈsɪlvərbɛri | ▶noun ( pl. silverberries ) a North American shrub related to the oleaster, with red-brown stems and silvery leaves, flowers, and berries. [Elaeagnus commutata, family Elaeagnaceae. ]

silver birch

sil ver birch |ˈˌsɪlvər ˈbərtʃ | ▶noun a European birch with silver-gray bark, common on poorer soils to the northern limit of tree growth. [Betula pendula, family Betulaceae. ] • another term for paper birch.

silver bullet

sil ver bul let ▶noun a bullet made of silver, used in fiction as a supposedly magical method of killing werewolves. • a simple and seemingly magical solution to a complicated problem: the Internet, like TQM and Re-engineering, proved to be no silver bullet. an interesting characteristic of silver bullet productivity solutions is their tendency to be recycled every 10 to 20 years.

silver chloride

sil ver chlo ride ▶noun a white insoluble powder that darkens on exposure to light, owing to the production of metallic silver. It is used in making photographic emulsions and papers.

silver disc

sil ¦ver disc ▶noun a framed silver-coloured disc awarded to a recording artist or group for sales of a recording exceeding a specified figure (lower than those required for a gold disc ).

silvereye

sil ver eye |ˈsilvərˌī ˈsɪlvəraɪ | ▶noun an Australasian songbird of the white-eye family, with mainly greenish plumage and a white ring around the eye. [Genus Zosterops, family Zosteropidae: two or three species. ]

silver fern

sil ¦ver fern ▶noun 1 another term for ponga. 2 a stylized fern leaf in silver, as an emblem of New Zealand.

silver fir

sil ver fir ▶noun a fir tree with foliage that appears silvery or bluish because of whitish lines on the undersides of the needles. [Genus Abies, family Pinaceae: several species, in particular the European A. alba and the North American A. amabilis, a coastal tree found from southern Alaska to northern California. ]

silverfish

sil ver fish |ˈsilvərˌfiSH ˈsɪlvərˌfɪʃ | ▶noun ( pl. same or silverfishes ) 1 a chiefly nocturnal silvery bristletail that frequents houses and other buildings, feeding on starchy materials. [Lepisma saccharina, family Lepismatidae. ] 2 a silver-colored fish, esp. a variety of goldfish.

silver fox

sil ver fox ▶noun a red fox of a North American variety that has black fur with white tips. • the fur of this animal.

silver gilt

sil ver gilt ▶noun gilded silver. • an imitation gilding of yellow lacquer over silver leaf.

silvering

sil ver ing |ˈsilvəriNG ˈsɪlvərɪŋ | ▶noun silver-colored material used to coat glass in order to make it reflective.

silver iodide

sil ver i o dide ▶noun a yellow insoluble powder that darkens on exposure to light. It is used in photography and artificial rainmaking. [Chem. formula: AgI. ]

silver jubilee

sil ver ju bi lee |ˈsɪlvər ˈʤubəˌli | ▶noun the twenty-fifth anniversary of a significant event.

silver Latin

sil ¦ver Latin ▶noun [ mass noun ] literary Latin from the death of Augustus ( ad 14 ) to the mid second century.

silver leaf

sil ver leaf ▶noun 1 a fungal disease of ornamental and fruit trees, esp. plum trees, resulting in silvery discoloration of the leaves. [The fungus is Chondrostereum purpureum, family Stereaceae, class Hymenomycetes. ] 2 silver that has been beaten into a very thin sheet, suitable for applying to surfaces as a decoration.

silver-line

silver-line ▶noun either of two European moths with two or three whitish lines on the forewing: ● ( brown silver-line ) a light brown moth whose larvae feed on bracken (Petrophora chlorosata, family Geometridae ). ● ( silver-lines ) a moth with mainly green forewings (genera Pseudoips and Bena, family Noctuidae ).

silver maple

sil ver ma ple ▶noun a maple of eastern North America with leaves that are silvery underneath. [Acer saccharinum, family Aceraceae. ]

silver medal

sil ver med al |ˈsɪlvər ˈmɛdl | ▶noun a medal made of or colored silver, customarily awarded for second place in a race or other competition.

silvern

sil vern |ˈsilvərn ˈsɪlvərn | ▶adjective archaic term for silver. ORIGIN Old English seolfren, silfren (see silver, -n 1 ).

silver nitrate

sil ver ni trate ▶noun a colorless solid, soluble in water, formerly used in photography. [Chem. formula: AgNO 3. ]

silver paper

sil ver pa per |ˈsɪlvər ˈpeɪpər | ▶noun 1 chiefly Brit. foil made of aluminum or other silver-colored metal. 2 archaic fine white tissue paper.

silver plate

sil ver plate |ˈsɪlvər pleɪt | ▶noun a thin layer of silver electroplated or otherwise applied as a coating to another metal. • objects coated with silver. • plates, dishes, etc. , made of silver. ▶verb ( silver-plate ) [ with obj. ] cover (something ) with a thin layer of silver.

silverpoint

sil ver point |ˈsilvərˌpoint ˈsɪlvərpɔɪnt | ▶noun the art of drawing with a silver-pointed instrument on paper prepared with a coating of powdered bone or zinc white, creating a fine durable line composed of metal fragments.

silver salmon

sil ver salm on ▶noun another term for coho.

silver sand

sil ¦ver sand ▶noun [ mass noun ] Brit. a fine white sand used in gardening.

silver service

sil ver serv ice |ˈsɪlvər ˈsərvəs | ▶noun a style of serving food at formal meals in which the server uses a silver spoon and fork in one hand to serve the food item by item onto the diner's plate.

silverside

sil ver side |ˈsilvərˌsīd ˈsɪlvərˌsaɪd | ▶noun 1 (also silversides ) a small, slender, chiefly marine fish with a bright silver line along its sides. [Family Atherinidae: several genera and species. ] 2 Brit. the upper side of a round of beef from the outside of the leg.

silversmith

sil ver smith |ˈsilvərˌsmiTH ˈsɪlvərˌsmɪθ | ▶noun a person who makes silver articles. DERIVATIVES sil ver smith ing noun

silver solder

sil ver sol der ▶noun a brazing alloy consisting largely of copper and silver.

Silver Spring

Sil ver Spring a residential and commercial suburb in central Maryland, just north of Washington, DC; pop. 76,540 (2000 ).

silver standard

sil ver stand ard ▶noun historical a system by which the value of a currency is defined in terms of silver, for which the currency may be exchanged. Compare with gold standard.

Silver Star

Sil ver Star ▶noun a decoration bestowed by the US Army upon a soldier for gallantry in action.

Silver State

Sil ver State a nickname for the state of Nevada.

Silverstein, Shel

Sil ver stein, Shel |ˈsilvərˌstīn, -ˌstēn ˈsɪlvərstaɪn | (1932 –99 ), US poet, writer, and cartoonist; full name Sheldon Alan Silverstein; also known as Uncle Shelby. He is best known for his children's stories and poetry such as in The Giving Tree (1964 ), Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974 ), A Light in the Attic (1981 ), and Falling Up (1996 ).

Silverstone

Sil ¦ver |stone |ˈsɪlvəstəʊn | a motor-racing circuit near Towcester in Northamptonshire.

silver surfer

sil ver surf er ▶noun informal an elderly person who is a regular or enthusiastic Internet user.

silversword

sil ver sword |ˈsilvərˌsôrd ˈsɪlvərsɔrd | ▶noun a Hawaiian plant of the daisy family that has long narrow leaves with silvery hairs and clusters of purplish flowers. [Genus Argyroxiphium, family Compositae. ]

silver thaw

sil ver thaw ▶noun a glassy coating of ice formed on the ground or an exposed surface by freezing rain or the refreezing of thawed ice.

silver tongue

sil ver tongue |ˈsɪlvər təŋ | ▶noun a tendency to be eloquent and persuasive in speaking. DERIVATIVES sil ver-tongued adjective

silver tree

sil ¦ver tree ▶noun a South African tree which has light silvery-green leaves covered with very fine down. ●Leucadendron argenteum, family Proteaceae.

silverware

sil ver ware |ˈsilvərˌwer ˈsɪlvərˌwɛ (ə )r | ▶noun dishes, containers, or cutlery made of or coated with silver. • eating and serving utensils made of any material.

silver wedding

sil ver wed ding |ˈsɪlvər ˈwɛdɪŋ |(also silver wedding anniversary ) ▶noun the twenty-fifth anniversary of a wedding.

silverweed

sil ver weed |ˈsilvərˌwēd ˈsɪlvərwid | ▶noun a yellow-flowered herbaceous potentilla with silvery compound leaves, a common grassland weed of north temperate regions. [Potentilla anserina, family Rosaceae. ]

silvery

sil ver y |ˈsilvərē ˈsɪlv (ə )ri | ▶adjective like silver in color or appearance; shiny and gray-white: shoals of silvery fish. • (of a person's hair ) gray-white and lustrous. • (of a sound ) gentle, clear, and melodious: a little silvery laugh. DERIVATIVES sil ver i ness noun

silver Y

sil ¦ver Y ▶noun a greyish-brown European moth that has purple-tinged wings with a white Y-shaped mark on the forewings. ●Autographa gamma, family Noctuidae.

Oxford Dictionary

silver

sil ¦ver |ˈsɪlvə | ▶noun [ mass noun ] 1 a precious shiny greyish-white metal, the chemical element of atomic number 47. (Symbol: Ag ) 2 a shiny grey-white colour or appearance like that of silver: the dark hair was now highlighted with silver. 3 silver dishes, containers, or cutlery: thieves stole £5,000 worth of silver | the family silver. • household cutlery of any material. 4 coins made from silver or from a metal that resembles silver. • chiefly Scottish money. 5 [ count noun ] short for silver medal. ▶verb [ with obj. ] (often as adj. silvered ) coat or plate with silver: large silvered candlesticks. • provide (mirror glass ) with a backing of a silver-coloured material in order to make it reflective. • literary (especially of the moon ) give a silvery appearance to: the brilliant moon silvered the turf. • turn (a person's hair ) grey or white. • [ no obj. ] (of a person's hair ) turn grey or white. PHRASES be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth be born into a wealthy family of high social standing. every cloud has a silver lining proverb every difficult or sad situation has a comforting or more hopeful aspect, even though this may not be immediately apparent. the silver screen the cinema industry; cinema films collectively: stars of the silver screen. ORIGIN Old English seolfor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zilver and German Silber .

silver age

sil ¦ver age ▶noun a period regarded as notable but inferior to a golden age, such as that of so-called silver Latin literature.

silverback

silver |back |ˈsɪlvəbak | ▶noun a mature male mountain gorilla, which is distinguished by an area of white or silvery hair across the back and is the dominant member of its social group.

silver band

sil ¦ver band ▶noun Brit. a brass band playing silver-plated instruments.

silver beet

sil ¦ver beet ▶noun Australian and New Zealand term for chard.

silverberry

silver |berry |ˈsɪlvəbɛri, -bəri | ▶noun ( pl. silverberries ) a North American shrub related to the oleaster, with red-brown stems and silvery leaves, flowers, and berries. ●Elaeagnus commutata, family Elaeagnaceae.

silver birch

sil ¦ver birch ▶noun a Eurasian birch with silver-grey bark, common on poorer soils to the northern limit of tree growth. ●Betula pendula, family Betulaceae. • N. Amer. another term for paper birch.

silver bullet

sil ¦ver bul ¦let ▶noun a bullet made of silver, supposedly the only weapon that could kill a werewolf. • chiefly N. Amer. a simple and seemingly magical solution to a complicated problem.

silver chloride

sil ver chlo ride ▶noun a white insoluble powder that darkens on exposure to light, owing to the production of metallic silver. It is used in making photographic emulsions and papers.

silver disc

sil ¦ver disc ▶noun a framed silver-coloured disc awarded to a recording artist or group for sales of a recording exceeding a specified figure (lower than those required for a gold disc ).

silver drummer

sil ¦ver drum |mer ▶noun see drummer ( sense 3 ).

silver-eared mesia

silver-eared mesia ▶noun see mesia.

silvereye

silver |eye |ˈsɪlvərʌɪ | ▶noun an Australasian songbird of the white-eye family, with mainly greenish plumage and a white ring round the eye. ●Genus Zosterops, family Zosteropidae: two or three species.

silver fern

sil ¦ver fern ▶noun 1 another term for ponga. 2 a stylized fern leaf in silver, as an emblem of New Zealand.

silver fir

sil ¦ver fir ▶noun a fir tree with foliage that appears silvery or bluish because of whitish lines on the undersides of the needles. ●Genus Abies, family Pinaceae: several species, in particular A. alba.

silverfish

silver |fish |ˈsɪlvəfɪʃ | ▶noun ( pl. same or silverfishes ) 1 a silvery bristletail that lives in houses and other buildings, chiefly nocturnal and feeding on starchy materials. ●Lepisma saccharina, family Lepismatidae. 2 a silver-coloured fish, especially a variety of goldfish.

silver fox

sil ¦ver fox ▶noun a red fox of a North American variety which has black fur with white tips. • [ mass noun ] the fur of the silver fox.

silver gilt

sil ¦ver gilt ▶noun [ mass noun ] gilded silver. • an imitation gilding of yellow lacquer over silver leaf.

silvering

sil ¦ver |ing |ˈsɪlvərɪŋ | ▶noun [ mass noun ] silver-coloured material used to coat glass in order to make it reflective.

silver iodide

sil ¦ver iod ¦ide ▶noun [ mass noun ] a yellow insoluble powder that darkens on exposure to light. It is used in photography and artificial rainmaking.

silver jubilee

sil ¦ver ju ¦bi |lee ▶noun the twenty-fifth anniversary of a significant event.

silver Latin

sil ¦ver Latin ▶noun [ mass noun ] literary Latin from the death of Augustus ( ad 14 ) to the mid second century.

silver leaf

sil ¦ver leaf ▶noun [ mass noun ] 1 a fungal disease of ornamental and fruit trees, especially plum trees, resulting in silvery discoloration of the leaves. ●The fungus is Chondrostereum purpureum, family Stereaceae, class Hymenomycetes. 2 silver that has been beaten into a very thin sheet, suitable for applying to surfaces as a decoration.

silver-line

silver maple

sil ver ma ple ▶noun a maple of eastern North America with leaves that are silvery underneath. [Acer saccharinum, family Aceraceae. ]

silver medal

sil ¦ver medal ▶noun a medal made of or coloured silver, customarily awarded for second place in a race or competition.

silvern

silvern |ˈsɪlv (ə )n | ▶adjective archaic made of or coloured silver. ORIGIN Old English seolfren, silfren (see silver, -n 1 ).

silver nitrate

sil ¦ver ni |trate ▶noun [ mass noun ] a colourless solid, soluble in water, formerly used in photography. ●Chem. formula: AgNO 3.

silver paper

sil ¦ver paper ▶noun [ mass noun ] 1 chiefly Brit. foil made of aluminium or other silver-coloured metal. 2 archaic fine white tissue paper.

silver plate

sil ¦ver plate ▶noun [ mass noun ] a thin layer of silver electroplated or otherwise applied as a coating to another metal. • objects coated with silver. • plates, dishes, etc. made of silver. ▶verb ( silver-plate ) [ with obj. ] cover (something ) with a thin layer of silver.

silverpoint

silver |point |ˈsɪlvəpɔɪnt | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the art of drawing with a silver-pointed instrument on paper prepared with a coating of powdered bone or zinc white, creating a fine indelible line composed of metal fragments.

silver salmon

sil ¦ver sal ¦mon ▶noun another term for coho.

silver sand

sil ¦ver sand ▶noun [ mass noun ] Brit. a fine white sand used in gardening.

silver service

sil ¦ver ser |vice ▶noun [ mass noun ] a style of serving food at formal meals in which the server uses a silver spoon and fork in one hand to serve the food item by item on to the diner's plate.

silverside

sil ¦ver |side |ˈsɪlvəsʌɪd | ▶noun 1 [ mass noun ] Brit. the upper side of a round of beef from the outside of the leg. 2 (also silversides ) a small, slender, chiefly marine fish with a bright silver line along its sides. ●Family Atherinidae: several genera and species.

silversmith

sil ¦ver |smith |ˈsɪlvəsmɪθ | ▶noun a person who makes silver articles. DERIVATIVES silversmithing noun

silver solder

sil ¦ver sol ¦der ▶noun [ mass noun ] a brazing alloy consisting largely of copper and silver.

Silver Spring

Sil ver Spring a residential and commercial suburb in central Maryland, just north of Washington, DC; pop. 76,540 (2000 ).

silver standard

sil ¦ver stand |ard ▶noun historical a system by which the value of a currency is defined in terms of silver, for which the currency may be exchanged.

Silver Star

Sil ver Star ▶noun a decoration bestowed by the US Army upon a soldier for gallantry in action.

Silver State

Silver State informal name for Nevada.

Silverstein, Shel

Silverstone

Sil ¦ver |stone |ˈsɪlvəstəʊn | a motor-racing circuit near Towcester in Northamptonshire.

silver surfer

sil ¦ver surf ¦er ▶noun informal an elderly person who is a regular or enthusiastic user of the Internet.

silversword

silver |sword |ˈsɪlvəsəɔːd | ▶noun a Hawaiian plant of the daisy family, which has long, narrow leaves with silvery hairs and clusters of purplish flowers. ●Genus Argyroxiphium, family Compositae.

silver thaw

sil ¦ver thaw ▶noun a glassy coating of ice formed on the ground or an exposed surface by freezing rain or the refreezing of thawed ice.

silver tongue

sil ¦ver tongue ▶noun a tendency to be eloquent and persuasive in speaking. DERIVATIVES silver-tongued adjective

silver tree

sil ¦ver tree ▶noun a South African tree which has light silvery-green leaves covered with very fine down. ●Leucadendron argenteum, family Proteaceae.

silverware

sil ¦ver |ware |ˈsɪlvəwɛː | ▶noun [ mass noun ] dishes, containers, or cutlery made of or coated with silver, or made of a material resembling silver.

silver wedding

sil ¦ver wed |ding ▶noun Brit. the twenty-fifth anniversary of a wedding.

silverweed

sil ¦ver |weed |ˈsɪlvəwiːd | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a yellow-flowered herbaceous potentilla with silvery compound leaves, a common grassland weed of north temperate regions. ●Potentilla anserina, family Rosaceae.

silvery

sil |very |ˈsɪlv (ə )ri | ▶adjective 1 like silver in colour or appearance; shiny and grey-white: shoals of silvery fish. • (of a person's hair ) grey-white and lustrous. 2 (of a sound ) gentle, clear, and melodious: a little silvery laugh. DERIVATIVES silveriness noun

silver Y

sil ¦ver Y ▶noun a greyish-brown European moth that has purple-tinged wings with a white Y-shaped mark on the forewings. ●Autographa gamma, family Noctuidae.

American Oxford Thesaurus

silver

silver noun 1 freshly polished silver: silverware, (silver ) plate; cutlery, 'knives, forks, and spoons'. 2 a handful of silver: coins, coinage, specie; (small ) change, loose change. 3 she won three silvers: silver medal, second prize. ▶adjective 1 silver hair: gray, grayish, white. 2 the silver water: silvery, shining, lustrous, gleaming; literary argent.

Oxford Thesaurus

silver

silver noun 1 the table was laden with freshly polished silver: silverware, (silver ) plate; dishes, plates, flatware; cutlery, {knives, forks, and spoons }. 2 Fred reached into his pocket and took out a handful of silver: coins, coinage, specie; change, small change, loose change; informal shrapnel. ANTONYMS notes. 3 she won three silvers: silver medal, second prize. ▶adjective 1 a man with silver hair: grey, greyish, white, greyish-white, whitish-grey, light. 2 the silver water: silvery, shining, lustrous, bright, gleaming; literary argent. ▶verb a silvered bracelet: plate with silver, coat with silver, overlay with silver, laminate with silver, back with silver; plate, electroplate.

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

silver

sil ver /sɪ́lvə r /(形 )silvery 名詞複～s /-z /1 U 銀〘金属元素; ｟記号｠Ag 〙▸ The mirror was made of silver .その鏡は銀でできていた ▸ a lump of silver 銀塊 2 U 〖集合的に〗銀食器 (!銀製もしくは銀色の金属製のもの ) ; 銀製品 (silverware )▸ polish the silver 銀食器を磨く 3 U 銀色の貨幣 [硬貨 ]; ｟主に英やや古｠銀貨 (silver coin ); 銀に似た金属 ▸ Could you change this note for silver , please? この紙幣を銀貨に両替していただけますか 4 U 銀色 , 銀白 .5 U C ｟くだけて｠銀メダル (silver medal )▸ Ogawa won silver in the Olympics .小川はオリンピックで銀メダルを獲得した (h à nd [g ì ve ] A B [B to A ]) on a s ì lver pl á tter 見返りを期待せずに [簡単に ](A 〈人〉にB 〈物〉を贈る ).形容詞比較なし 1 〈色が〉銀色の , 銀白の ▸ a silver jacket 銀色のジャケット ▸ silver nail varnish [hair ]シルバーのマニキュア [銀髪 ]事情日本語のシルバーとの違い日本語では髪の色が「シルバー」であることから年配者をさすことがあるが, 英語ではそのような連想をさせる色はgray, ｟英｠grey (→gray 形容詞 7 ).2 銀の ; 銀製の ▸ a silver bracelet 銀のブレスレット ▸ a silver mine 銀山 3 〈声音が〉澄んだ , さえた ; 〈弁舌が〉さえわたる , 雄弁な .4 銀本位制の .5 〖名詞の前で〗25周年の〈結婚記念日など〉.動詞他動詞 1 〖通例be ～ed 〗銀めっきされる , 銀がかぶせられる .2 ｟主に文｠…を銀色に輝かせる , 銀色にする ▸ Moonlight silvered the trees .月光はその木々を銀色に照らした自動詞銀色になる .～́ anniv è rsary (結婚などの )25周年記念日 ; ｟英｠＝silver wedding .～̀ b í rch 〘植〙シラカバ .～̀ b ú llet 全面解決の方策, 特効薬 .～̀ c ó rd へその緒 ; 母子の絆（きずな）.～̀ d ó llar (米国でかつての )1ドル銀貨 .～́ f ò il ｟英｠＝foil 1 1 .～̀ g í lt 金めっきした銀 .～̀ j ú bilee ｟主に英｠(即位などの )25周年記念日 [祭 ].～́ l è af ＝silver paper .～̀ l í ning (不幸な境遇に差す )光明, 明るい兆し .～̀ m é dalist 銀メダリスト .～́ p à per ｟英｠(タバコなどを包む )銀紙 .～̀ pl á te 〖集合的に〗銀めっき (の食器類 ).～̀ scr é en ｟やや古｠〖the ～〗(往年の )銀幕 (の世界 ); 映画産業 .S -̀ St á r 〘米陸軍〙銀星章 .S -́ St à te 〖the ～〗銀州〘米国Nevada州の愛称〙.～̀ w é dding (anniv è rsary )｟英｠銀婚式〘結婚25周年の祝い; →wedding 〙.

silvered

s í l vered 形容詞｟文｠〖通例名詞の前で〗銀色の .

silverfish

s í lver f ì sh 名詞 →fish C 〘魚〙(各種の )銀色の魚, シロキンギョ〘銀色のキンギョ〙; 〘虫〙(セイヨウ )シミ〘紙類を食害する〙.

silverplate

s ì lver pl á te 動詞他動詞 …を銀めっきする .

silver-plated

s ì lver-pl á t ed /-ɪd /形容詞銀めっきされた .

silversmith

s í lver sm ì th 名詞 C 銀細工師 .

silver-tongued

s ì lver-t ó ngued 形容詞｟文｠〈人が〉説得力がある, 説得上手な, 雄弁な .

silverware

s í lver w à re 名詞 U ｟米｠〖集合的に〗(ナイフフォークスプーンなどの )金属食器 ; (特に )銀食器 ; 銀器 .

silvery

sil ver y /sɪ́lv (ə )ri /形容詞 1 銀のような, 銀 (白 )色をした ▸ silvery hair 銀髪 2 銀で飾った [覆った ], 銀を含んだ .3 ｟文｠〈音楽が〉楽しく軽快な ; 〈音が〉 (柔らかく )さえた, 響きのよい ▸ a silvery tone 銀鈴のような響きのよい音色