Meaning & use
rolled gold
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountabletechnical
A thin layer of gold bonded onto a cheaper metal, used to make jewelry that looks like gold.
Grammar: Uncountable: the ring is rolled gold.
Patterns
- made of rolled gold
The watch case is rolled gold, not solid.
Rolled gold lasts longer than ordinary gold plating.
She bought a rolled gold bracelet that looked expensive.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Made from or coated with a thin layer of gold on another metal.
Grammar: Comes before a noun: a rolled gold chain.
Patterns
- a rolled gold something
He wore a rolled gold chain.
The rolled gold finish started to wear off.
These rolled gold earrings are cheap but attractive.
Common combinations
- rolled gold jewelry
- Rolled gold jewelry is cheaper than solid gold.
- rolled gold chain
- The rolled gold chain turned green.
- rolled gold finish
- The pen has a rolled gold finish.
- rolled gold plating
- Rolled gold plating is thicker than regular plating.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gold plated
- Gold plated has a much thinner layer than rolled gold, so it wears off faster.
- gold filled
- Gold filled is the American term and has a thick layer of gold, often similar to rolled gold.
- gilt
- Gilt is a thin layer of gold applied for decoration, often on frames, not necessarily on jewelry.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: rolled gold or solid gold?
rolled gold vs solid gold
Solid gold is gold all the way through, whereas rolled gold only has a thin outer layer.
Practice
What is rolled gold?
Choose one answer.
Rolled gold is a gold layer bonded onto another metal. It is not pure or solid gold.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rolled gold”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.