Gold vs. Silver — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Gold and Silver
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Compare with Definitions
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from Latin: aurum) and atomic number 79, making it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. In a pure form, it is a bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal.
Silver
Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin argentum, derived from the Proto-Indo-European h₂erǵ: "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal.
Gold
A yellow precious metal, the chemical element of atomic number 79, used especially in jewellery and decoration and to guarantee the value of currencies.
Gold earrings
Silver
Symbol Ag A lustrous white, ductile, malleable metallic element, occurring both uncombined and in ores such as argentite, having the highest thermal and electrical conductivity of the metals. It is highly valued for jewelry, tableware, and other ornamental use and is widely used in coinage, photography, dental and soldering alloys, electrical contacts, and printed circuits. Atomic number 47; atomic weight 107.868; melting point 961.78°C; boiling point 2,162°C; specific gravity 10.50 (20°C); valence 1, 2. See Periodic Table.
Gold
A deep lustrous yellow or yellow-brown colour
Her eyes were light green and flecked with gold
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Silver
This metallic element as a commodity or medium of exchange.
Gold
Coins or other articles made of gold
Her ankles and wrists were glinting with gold
Silver
Coins made of this metallic element.
Gold
The bullseye of an archery target.
Silver
A medal made of silver awarded to one placing second in a competition, as in the Olympics.
Gold
Symbol Au A soft, yellow, corrosion-resistant element, the most malleable and ductile metal, occurring in veins and alluvial deposits and recovered by mining, panning, or sluicing. A good thermal and electrical conductor, gold is generally alloyed to increase its strength, and it is used as a common monetary standard, in jewelry, for decoration, and as a plated coating on a wide variety of electrical and mechanical components. Atomic number 79; atomic weight 196.967; melting point 1,064.2°C; boiling point 2,856.0°C; specific gravity 19.3; valence 1, 3. See Periodic Table.
Silver
Domestic articles, such as tableware, made of or plated with silver.
Gold
Coinage made of this element.
Silver
Tableware, especially eating and serving utensils, made of steel or another metal.
Gold
A gold standard.
Silver
A lustrous medium gray.
Gold
Money; riches.
Silver
A silver salt, especially silver nitrate, used to sensitize paper.
Gold
A light olive-brown to dark yellow, or a moderate, strong to vivid yellow.
Silver
Made of or containing silver
A silver bowl.
Silver ore.
Gold
Something regarded as having great value or goodness
A heart of gold.
Silver
Resembling silver, especially in having a lustrous shine; silvery.
Gold
A medal made of gold awarded to one placing first in a competition, as in the Olympics
Won 9 golds in 13 events.
Silver
Of a lustrous medium gray
Silver hair.
Gold
Having the color of gold.
Silver
Having a soft, clear, resonant sound.
Gold
(uncountable) A heavy yellow elemental metal of great value, with atomic number 79 and symbol Au.
Silver
Eloquent; persuasive
A silver voice.
Gold
A coin or coinage made of this material, or supposedly so.
The pirates were searching for gold.
Silver
Favoring the adoption of silver as a standard of currency
The silver plank of the 1896 Democratic platform.
Gold
(uncountable) A deep yellow colour, resembling the metal gold.
Silver
Of or constituting a 25th anniversary.
Gold
(countable) The bullseye of an archery target.
Daniel hit the gold to win the contest.
Silver
To cover, plate, or adorn with silver or a similar lustrous substance.
Gold
(countable) A gold medal.
France has won three golds and five silvers.
Silver
To give a silver color to.
Gold
(figuratively) Anything or anyone that is very valuable.
That food mixer you gave me is absolute gold, mate!
Silver
To coat (photographic paper) with a film of silver nitrate or other silver salt.
Gold
A grill jewellery worn on front teeth made of gold.
Silver
To become silvery.
Gold
Made of gold.
A gold chain
Silver
(uncountable) A lustrous, white, metallic element, atomic number 47, atomic weight 107.87, symbol Ag.
Gold
Having gold of gold.
Gold sticker
Gold socks
Silver
Coins made from silver or any similar white metal.
Gold
(of commercial services) Premium, superior.
Silver
Cutlery and other eating utensils, whether silver or made from some other white metal.
Gold
Of a musical recording: having sold 500,000 copies.
Silver
Any items made from silver or any other white metal.
Gold
In a finished state, ready for manufacturing.
Silver
(uncountable) A shiny gray color.
Gold
To appear or cause to appear golden.
Silver
(countable) a silver medal
Gold
Of or referring to a gold version of something
Silver
Anything resembling silver; something shiny and white.
Gold
An old English name of some yellow flower, - the marigold (Calendula), according to Dr. Prior, but in Chaucer perhaps the turnsole.
Silver
Made from silver.
Gold
A metallic element of atomic number 79, constituting the most precious metal used as a common commercial medium of exchange. It has a characteristic yellow color, is one of the heaviest substances known (specific gravity 19.32), is soft, and very malleable and ductile. It is quite unalterable by heat (melting point 1064.4° C), moisture, and most corrosive agents, and therefore well suited for its use in coin and jewelry. Symbol Au (Aurum). Atomic weight 196.97.
Silver
Made from another white metal.
Gold
Money; riches; wealth.
For me, the gold of France did not seduce.
Silver
Having a color like silver: a shiny gray.
Gold
A yellow color, like that of the metal; as, a flower tipped with gold.
Silver
Denoting the twenty-fifth anniversary, especially of a wedding.
Gold
Figuratively, something precious or pure; as, hearts of gold.
Silver
(of commercial services) Premium, but inferior to gold.
Gold
Coins made of gold
Silver
Having the clear, musical tone of silver; soft and clear in sound.
A silver-voiced young girl
Gold
A deep yellow color;
An amber light illuminated the room
He admired the gold of her hair
Silver
To acquire a silvery colour.
Gold
A soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element; occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits; does not react with most chemicals but is attacked by chlorine and aqua regia
Silver
To cover with silver, or with a silvery metal.
To silver a pin; to silver a glass mirror plate with an amalgam of tin and mercury
Gold
Great wealth;
Whilst that for which all virtue now is sold, and almost every vice--almighty gold
Silver
To polish like silver; to impart a brightness to, like that of silver.
Gold
Something likened to the metal in brightness or preciousness or superiority etc.;
The child was as good as gold
She has a heart of gold
Silver
To make hoary, or white, like silver.
Gold
Made from or covered with gold;
Gold coins
The gold dome of the Capitol
The golden calf
Gilded icons
Silver
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 107.7. Specific gravity 10.5.
Gold
Having the deep slightly brownish color of gold;
Long aureate (or golden) hair
A gold carpet
Silver
Coin made of silver; silver money.
Silver
Anything having the luster or appearance of silver.
Silver
The color of silver.
Silver
Of or pertaining to silver; made of silver; as, silver leaf; a silver cup.
Silver
Resembling silver.
Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathedTheir downy breast.
Silver
Precious; costly.
Silver
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.
Silver
To polish like silver; to impart a brightness to, like that of silver.
And smiling calmness silvered o'er the deep.
Silver
To make hoary, or white, like silver.
His head was silvered o'er with age.
Silver
To acquire a silvery color.
The eastern sky began to silver and shine.
Silver
A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
Silver
Coins made of silver
Silver
A light shade of gray
Silver
Silverware eating utensils
Silver
A medal made of silver (or having the appearance of silver) that is usually awarded for winning second place in a competition
Silver
Coat with a layer of silver or a silver amalgam;
Silver the necklace
Silver
Make silver in color;
Her worries had silvered her hair
Silver
Turn silver;
The man's hair silvered very attractively
Silver
Made from or largely consisting of silver;
Silver bracelets
Silver
Having the white lustrous sheen of silver;
A land of silver (or silvern) rivers where the salmon leap
Repeated scrubbings have given the wood a silvery sheen
Silver
Lustrous gray; covered with or tinged with the color of silver;
Silvery hair
Silver
Expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively;
Able to dazzle with his facile tongue
Silver speech
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