silver
sil·ver [silver silvers silvered silvering] noun, adjective, verb BrE [ˈsɪlvə(r)] NAmE [ˈsɪlvər]
noun
1. uncountable (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. uncountable coins that are made of silver or a metal that looks like silver
•I need £2 in silver for the parking meter.
3. uncountable dishes, decorative objects, etc. that are made of silver
• They've had to sell the family silver to pay the bills.
4. uncountable a shiny greyish-white colour
see also ↑silvery
5. uncountable, countable = ↑silver medal
• She won silver in last year's championships.
•The team won two silvers and a bronze.
more at born with a silver spoon in your mouth at ↑born, every cloud has a silver lining at ↑cloud n., cross sb's palm with silver at ↑cross v.
Word Origin:
Old English seolfor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zilver and German Silber.
Example Bank:
•He was forced to sell the family silver to pay for the repairs to the house.
•Her run was enough to secure silver for the team.
•She got a silver in the long jump.
•She managed to snatch the silver from the defending champion.
•Silver is extracted from ore.
•The chain was available in silver plate for $12.50.
•They accused the government of selling off the family silver to pay for their policies.
•a gemstone set in silver
•a knife with a polished silver casing
•gold and silver plate
Idiom: ↑on a silver platter
adjective
shiny greyish-white in colour
•a silver car
•silver hair
see also ↑silvery
Word Origin:
Old English seolfor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zilver and German Silber.
verb
1. usually passive ~ sth to cover the surface of sth with a thin layer of silver or sth that looks like silver
2. ~ sth (especially literary)to make sth become bright like silver
•Moonlight was silvering the countryside.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Old English seolfor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zilver and German Silber.
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