gold-leaf

A craftsman carefully applies gold-leaf to a picture frame.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Thin sheet of gold: "gold-leaf" refers to gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets, typically used for gilding (covering surfaces with a thin layer of gold) in art, decoration, or architecture.

Usage Examples

• (He covered the frame with a thin layer of gold for decoration.)
• (Thin gold sheets are used to adorn book covers.)
• (The intricate parts were coated with gold for visual effect.)

Advanced Usage

• "to lay gold-leaf": the process of applying gold-leaf to a surface.

  • The artist spent hours learning how to lay gold-leaf on the manuscript. (The artist practiced applying thin gold sheets to the document.)

• "gold-leafing": the act or technique of applying gold-leaf.

  • Gold-leafing requires a steady hand and a special adhesive called size. (The technique of gilding with gold-leaf demands skill and specific materials.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gold leaf (n, alternative spelling): same as "gold-leaf".

  • The antique mirror had gold leaf along its edges. (The mirror was decorated with thin gold sheets.)

• Gild (v): to cover with a thin layer of gold or gold-like material.

  • They decided to gild the picture frame using gold-leaf. (They covered the frame with gold-leaf.)

• Gilder (n): a person who applies gold-leaf.

  • The gilder carefully burnished the gold-leaf to make it shine. (The craftsman smoothed the gold-leaf for a glossy finish.)

Synonyms

• Gold foil: a slightly thicker form of gold used for similar decorative purposes.
• Gilding material: any substance used for gilding, including gold-leaf.

Related Idioms

• "to gild the lily": to add unnecessary decoration to something already beautiful or perfect.
  • Adding gold-leaf to the already elegant vase seemed like gilding the lily. (It was an excessive embellishment.)