Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Made of or containing gold: Describing something composed of the precious metal gold.
   • Having the color of gold: Having a bright, rich, yellowish color similar to that of gold.
   • Very favorable, excellent, or prosperous: Marked by great happiness, success, or opportunity.
   • Marked by peace and prosperity: Characteristic of a period of great happiness, success, and cultural achievement.
   • Supremely favored or fortunate: Considered to be especially lucky or blessed.

Examples of Usage

• Made of or containing gold:
  • The museum displayed a golden crown from the ancient kingdom.
  • She wore a delicate golden necklace.
• Having the color of gold:
  • The field of wheat shone with a golden hue in the sunset.
  • He has beautiful golden hair.
• Very favorable, excellent, or prosperous:
  • The retirement package was a golden opportunity he couldn't refuse.
  • The actor is enjoying his golden years in the industry.
• Marked by peace and prosperity:
  • Historians often refer to that decade as a golden age for the arts.
• Supremely favored or fortunate:
  • They were the golden couple, admired by everyone.

Advanced Usage

• "Golden rule": A fundamental principle or guideline, especially the ethical rule of treating others as one wishes to be treated.
  • Remember the golden rule: treat others with respect.
• "Golden handshake": A large sum of money or other financial compensation given to someone when they leave a company, especially at retirement.
  • The CEO received a substantial golden handshake upon his departure.
• "Golden opportunity": An excellent and perhaps rare chance to do something.
  • Studying abroad presented a golden opportunity to learn a new language.

Variants and Related Words

• Gold (n): The precious yellow metallic element; money or wealth.
  • The price of gold is very high.
• Gild (v): To cover thinly with gold.
  • The artisans gilded the picture frame.
• Gilded (adj): Covered thinly with gold leaf or gold paint; having a pleasing or showy appearance that conceals something of little worth.
  • They lived in a gilded mansion.

Synonyms

• Aureate: Made of or having the color of gold (literary).
• Gilt: Covered with a thin layer of gold.
• Halcyon: Denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.
• Prosperous: Successful in material terms; flourishing financially.
• Fortunate: Favored by or involving good luck.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: "Golden" is primarily an adjective and does not commonly form phrasal verbs. The related phrases are idiomatic expressions.

Related Idioms

• "Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs": To destroy a reliable source of profit or advantage through greed or shortsightedness.
  • By overcharging their loyal customers, the company killed the goose that laid the golden eggs.
• "Golden boy/girl": A young man or woman who is especially successful and popular.
  • He was the golden boy of the tennis world for several years.
• "A heart of gold": A very kind and generous nature.
  • She may seem tough, but she has a heart of gold.
• "Worship the golden calf": To worship money or material wealth.
  • The film criticizes a society that worships the golden calf.
• "Strike gold": To find or do something that brings great success or wealth.
  • The startup struck gold with its innovative new app.

Adjective

1. presaging or likely to bring good luck
   • a favorable time to ask for a raise
   • lucky stars
   • a prosperous moment to make a decision
2. suggestive of gold
   • a golden voice
3. supremely favored
   • golden lads and girls all must / like chimney sweepers come to dust
4. made from or covered with gold
   • gold coins
   • the gold dome of the Capitol
   • the golden calf
   • gilded icons
5. marked by peace and prosperity
   • a golden era
   • the halcyon days of the clipper trade
6. having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
   • long aureate (or golden) hair
   • a gold carpet