Gilding

[gil-ding] /ˈgɪl dɪŋ/

noun
1.
the application of .
2.
the gold leaf or other material with which something is .
3.
the golden surface produced by the application of .
4.
something used to create a deceptively pleasing, impressive, or alluring aspect or character.
[gild] /gɪld/
verb (used with object), gilded or gilt, gilding.
1.
to coat with gold, gold leaf, or a gold-colored substance.
2.
to give a bright, pleasing, or specious aspect to.
3.
Archaic. to make red, as with blood.
Idioms
4.
gild the lily, to add unnecessary ornamentation, a special feature, etc., in an attempt to improve something that is already complete, satisfactory, or ideal:
After that wonderful meal, serving a fancy dessert would be gilding the lily.
/ˈɡɪldɪŋ/
noun
1.
the act or art of applying gilt to a surface
2.
the surface so produced
3.
another word for gilt1 (sense 2)
/ɡɪld/
verb (transitive) gilds, gilding, gilded, gilt (ɡɪlt)
1.
to cover with or as if with gold
2.
gild the lily

3.
to give a falsely attractive or valuable appearance to
4.
(archaic) to smear with blood
/ɡɪld/
noun
1.
a variant spelling of guild (sense 2)
n.

“action of gilding,” mid-15c.; “golden surface produced by gilding,” 1630s; verbal noun from gild (v.).
v.

Old English gyldan “to gild, to cover with a thin layer of gold,” from Proto-Germanic *gulthianan (cf. Old Norse gylla “to gild,” Old High German ubergulden “to cover with gold”), from *gulthan “gold” (see gold). Related: Gilded; gilding. Figuratively from 1590s.