| alchemy |
an ancient exploration and practice of chemistry which flourished particularly during medieval times. Practitioners used chemical processes in the hope of, for example, producing gold from base metals, finding the key to eternal life, and uncovering a single cure for all disease. [1/2 definitions] |
| aqua regia |
a volatile, corrosive mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids, used for dissolving gold and platinum and for testing metals. |
| Au |
symbol of the chemical element gold. |
| aureus |
an ancient Roman gold coin that was a monetary unit from the reign of Julius Caesar to that of Constantine I. |
| auriferous |
having gold as a component; gold-bearing. |
| baldachin |
a silk brocade fabric having gold and silver threads. [1/3 definitions] |
| bimetallic |
pertaining to the use of gold and silver as a monetary standard. [1/2 definitions] |
| bimetallism |
the use of two metals, usu. gold and silver, at fixed values in relation to each other, as the monetary standard of currency and value. [1/2 definitions] |
| bullion |
silver or gold considered simply as a quantity of metal rather than as currency or as a product such as jewelry. [2 definitions] |
| chryselephantine |
made of or overlaid with gold and ivory, as certain decorative objects and statues in ancient Greece. |
| crusado |
a silver or gold coin formerly minted in Portugal featuring the image of a cross. |
| Damascene |
to ornament (iron or steel) with wavy markings or inlays of gold or silver. [1/6 definitions] |
| demonetize |
to stop using (a metal, such as gold) as a measure or standard of monetary values. [1/2 definitions] |
| denarius |
a gold coin of ancient Rome, equaling twenty-five silver denarii; aureus. [1/2 definitions] |
| dinar |
any of several silver or gold coins formerly in circulation in the Middle East, esp. in Islamic nations. [1/8 definitions] |
| d'or |
(French) of gold. |
| d'or, in a field azure |
(combined French and English) of gold, on a blue background. |
| doubloon |
a gold coin formerly in circulation in Spain and Spanish America. |
| ducat |
any of various gold or silver coins formerly minted in certain European countries. |
| Dutch metal |
an alloy of copper and zinc, thin sheets of which resemble gold leaf. |
| El Dorado |
a legendary South American destination of early Spanish explorers seeking gold and riches. [1/2 definitions] |