a dense inert bright yellow element that is the most malleable and ductile metal, occurring in rocks and alluvial deposits: used as a monetary standard and in jewellery, dentistry, and plating. The radioisotope gold-198 (radiogold), with a half-life of 2.69 days, is used in radiotherapy. Symbol: Au; atomic no: 79; atomic wt: 196.96654; valency: 1 or 3; relative density: 19.3; melting pt: 1064.43°C; boiling pt: 2857°C
▶ Related adjectives: aurous, auric
b.
(as modifier)
a gold mine
2.
a coin or coins made of this metal
3.
money; wealth
4.
something precious, beautiful, etc, such as a noble nature (esp in the phrase heart of gold)
5.
a.
a deep yellow colour, sometimes with a brownish tinge
b.
(as adjective)
a gold carpet
6. archery
the bull's eye of a target, scoring nine points
7. short for gold medal
aurum in American English
(ˈɔrəm)
noun
Chemistry
gold
Symbol: Au
Word origin
[1490–1500; ‹ L: gold]This word is first recorded in the period 1490–1500. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: bulldog, clash, filler, odds, passport