Electrum

Quick meaning: Electrum is a noun meaning An alloy of gold and silver, used by the ancients; now specifically a natural alloy with between 20 and 50 per cent silver.

Meaning

An alloy of gold and silver, used by the ancients; now specifically a natural alloy with between 20 and 50 per cent silver.

More Meanings

1. German silver plate.
2. (obsolete) Amber.

Example Sentences

A natural alloy containing more than 20 per cent silver is called electrum, and was regarded by the ancients as a different metal from gold.

Native gold almost always contains silver in amounts varying widely between 5 and 50 per cent. This natural alloy is known as electrum although in classical antiquity where the word originated it seems to have been used for an artificial alloy of the two metals.

Word Forms

• electrums

Synonyms for electrum

Depending on context, synonyms include green gold.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include electre, grisamber, emeril, amber-greece, ambergrece, ambergreece.

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