Found 2 items, similar to gold dust.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: gold dust gold dust n : the particles and flakes (and sometimes small nuggets) of gold obtained in placer mining
English → English (gcide) Definition: Gold dust Gold \Gold\ (g[=o]ld), n. [AS. gold; akin to D. goud, OS. & G. gold, Icel. gull, Sw. & Dan. guld, Goth. gul[thorn], Russ. & OSlav. zlato; prob. akin to E. yellow. [root]49, 234. See Yellow, and cf. Gild, v. t.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Chem.) A metallic element of atomic number 79, constituting the most precious metal used as a common commercial medium of exchange. It has a characteristic yellow color, is one of the heaviest substances known (specific gravity 19.32), is soft, and very malleable and ductile. It is quite unalterable by heat (melting point 1064.4[deg] C), moisture, and most corrosive agents, and therefore well suited for its use in coin and jewelry. Symbol Au (Aurum). Atomic weight 196.97. [1913 Webster] Note: Native gold contains usually eight to ten per cent of silver, but often much more. As the amount of silver increases, the color becomes whiter and the specific gravity lower. Gold is very widely disseminated, as in the sands of many rivers, but in very small quantity. It usually occurs in quartz veins (gold quartz), in slate and metamorphic rocks, or in sand and alluvial soil, resulting from the disintegration of such rocks. It also occurs associated with other metallic substances, as in auriferous pyrites, and is combined with tellurium in the minerals petzite, calaverite, sylvanite, etc. Pure gold is too soft for ordinary use, and is hardened by alloying with silver and copper, the latter giving a characteristic reddish tinge. [See Carat.] Gold also finds use in gold foil, in the pigment purple of Cassius, and in the chloride, which is used as a toning agent in photography. [1913 Webster] 2. Money; riches; wealth. [1913 Webster] For me, the gold of France did not seduce. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. A yellow color, like that of the metal; as, a flower tipped with gold. [1913 Webster] 4. Figuratively, something precious or pure; as, hearts of gold. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Age of gold. See Golden age, under Golden. Dutch gold, Fool's gold, Gold dust, etc. See under Dutch, Dust, etc. Gold amalgam, a mineral, found in Columbia and California, composed of gold and mercury. Gold beater, one whose occupation is to beat gold into gold leaf. Gold beater's skin, the prepared outside membrane of the large intestine of the ox, used for separating the leaves of metal during the process of gold-beating. Gold beetle (Zo["o]l.), any small gold-colored beetle of the family Chrysomelid[ae]; -- called also golden beetle . Gold blocking, printing with gold leaf, as upon a book cover, by means of an engraved block. --Knight. Gold cloth. See Cloth of gold, under Cloth. Gold Coast, a part of the coast of Guinea, in West Africa. Gold cradle. (Mining) See Cradle, n., 7. Gold diggings, the places, or region, where gold is found by digging in sand and gravel from which it is separated by washing. Gold end, a fragment of broken gold or jewelry. Gold-end man. (a) A buyer of old gold or jewelry. (b) A goldsmith's apprentice. (c) An itinerant jeweler. ``I know him not: he looks like a gold-end man.'' --B. Jonson. Gold fever, a popular mania for gold hunting. Gold field, a region in which are deposits of gold. Gold finder. (a) One who finds gold. (b) One who empties privies. [Obs. & Low] --Swift. Gold flower, a composite plant with dry and persistent yellow radiating involucral scales, the Helichrysum St[oe]chas of Southern Europe. There are many South African species of the same genus. Gold foil, thin sheets of gold, as used by dentists and others. See Gold leaf. Gold knobs or Gold knoppes (Bot.), buttercups. Gold lace, a kind of lace, made of gold thread. Gold latten, a thin plate of gold or gilded metal. Gold leaf, gold beaten into a film of extreme thinness, and used for gilding, etc. It is much thinner than gold foil. Gold lode (Mining), a gold vein. Gold mine, a place where gold is obtained by mining operations, as distinguished from diggings, where it is extracted by washing. Cf. Gold diggings (above). Gold nugget, a lump of gold as found in gold mining or digging; -- called also a pepito. Gold paint. See Gold shell. Gold pheasant, or Golden pheasant. (Zo["o]l.) See under Pheasant. Gold plate, a general name for vessels, dishes, cups, spoons, etc., made of gold. Mosaic gold. See under Mosaic. [1913 Webster] Dust \Dust\ (d[u^]st), n. [AS. dust; cf. LG. dust, D. duist meal dust, OD. doest, donst, and G. dunst vapor, OHG. tunist, dunist, a blowing, wind, Icel. dust dust, Dan. dyst mill dust; perh. akin to L. fumus smoke, E. fume. [root]71.] 1. Fine, dry particles of earth or other matter, so comminuted that they may be raised and wafted by the wind; that which is crumbled to minute portions; fine powder; as, clouds of dust; bone dust. [1913 Webster] Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. --Gen. iii. 19. [1913 Webster] Stop! -- for thy tread is on an empire's dust. --Byron. [1913 Webster] 2. A single particle of earth or other matter. [R.] “To touch a dust of England's ground.” --Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. The earth, as the resting place of the dead. [1913 Webster] For now shall sleep in the dust. --Job vii. 21. [1913 Webster] 4. The earthy remains of bodies once alive; the remains of the human body. [1913 Webster] And you may carve a shrine about my dust. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster] 5. Figuratively, a worthless thing. [1913 Webster] And by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 6. Figuratively, a low or mean condition. [1913 Webster] [God] raiseth up the poor out of the dust. --1 Sam. ii. 8. [1913 Webster] 7. Gold dust; hence: (Slang) Coined money; cash. [1913 Webster] Down with the dust, deposit the cash; pay down the money. [Slang] “My lord, quoth the king, presently deposit your hundred pounds in gold, or else no going hence all the days of your life. . . . The Abbot down with his dust, and glad he escaped so, returned to Reading.” --Fuller. Dust brand (Bot.), a fungous plant (Ustilago Carbo); -- called also smut. Gold dust, fine particles of gold, such as are obtained in placer mining; -- often used as money, being transferred by weight. In dust and ashes. See under Ashes. To bite the dust. See under Bite, v. t. To raise dust, or To kick up dust, to make a commotion. [Colloq.] To throw dust in one's eyes, to mislead; to deceive. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]