- [uncountable] (symbol Ag)a chemical element. Silver is a shiny, grey-white precious metal used for making coins, jewellery, beautiful objects, etc.
- a silver ring/chain
- made of solid silver
- a silver mine
Extra ExamplesTopics Physics and chemistrya2- Silver is extracted from ore.
- a gemstone set in silver
- a knife with a polished silver casing
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- pure
- solid
- sterling
- …
- extract
- mine
- set something in
- …
- ore
- mine
- plate
- …
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- [uncountable] a shiny grey-white colour
- There was a streak of silver in her hair.
- silver of something the shimmering silver of the moon
- [uncountable] dishes, beautiful objects, etc. that are made of silver
- Thieves stole £5 000 worth of silver.
- They've had to sell the family silver to pay the bills.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- family
- polish
- [uncountable] coins that are made of silver or a metal that looks like silver
- I need £2 in silver for the parking meter.
- [uncountable, countable] (also silver medal [countable])a medal that is given to the person or the team that wins the second prize in a race or competition
- She won silver in last year's championships.
- The team won two silvers and a bronze.
Extra ExamplesTopics Sports: other sportsb2- 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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- Commonwealth
- Olympic
- be awarded
- earn
- get
- …
Word OriginOld English seolfor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zilver and German Silber.
Idioms
See silver in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee silver in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishborn with a silver spoon in your mouth
- (saying) having rich parents
cross somebody’s palm with silver
- to give somebody money so that they will do you a favour, especially tell your fortune
every cloud has a silver lining
- (saying) every sad or difficult situation has a positive side
on a silver platter
- if you are given something on a silver platter, you do not have to do much to get it
- These rich kids expect to have it all handed to them on a silver platter.
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silver