gold-plated
|gold-plat-ed|
🇺🇸
/ˈɡoʊld ˌpleɪtɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˈɡəʊld ˌpleɪtɪd/
superficial luxury
Etymology
'gold-plated' originates from the combination of 'gold' and 'plate,' where 'gold' refers to the precious metal and 'plate' refers to a thin layer or coating.
'Gold-plated' evolved from the practice of applying a thin layer of gold to objects to give them a luxurious appearance.
Initially, it meant 'covered with gold,' but over time it evolved to also mean 'appearing valuable but lacking true value.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
covered with a thin layer of gold.
The gold-plated watch looked expensive but was quite affordable.
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Adjective 2
appearing valuable or luxurious but lacking true value or quality.
The project was criticized for being gold-plated, offering style over substance.
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Last updated: 2025/01/14 21:06