Silver vs. Silvery — What's the Difference?

A metallic element with high electrical conductivity.

Often used to describe the color of fish or other aquatic animals.

Used historically and currently as currency in coins.

Describes an object with a shiny, metallic finish similar to silver.

Can be polished to restore its original luster when tarnished.

Can refer to hair color, especially in describing aging or grace.

Silver objects are valued for their antibacterial properties.

Used poetically to describe moonlight or other natural phenomena.

Reflects light very effectively, making it useful in mirrors.

Does not imply the actual presence of silver in the material.

Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin argentum, derived from the Proto-Indo-European h₂erǵ: "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal.

Silvery are a London-based 4-piece indie rock band, signed to Blow Up Records (the label of the legendary Britpop night club Blow Up). Their sound was described by journalist David Quantick in The Word as "Splenetic, frenetic, kinetic" and in NME as "Girlie harmonies, sniggering, fairground piano...

Symbol Ag A lustrous white, ductile, malleable metallic element, occurring both uncombined and in ores such as argentite, having the highest thermal and electrical conductivity of the metals. It is highly valued for jewelry, tableware, and other ornamental use and is widely used in coinage, photography, dental and soldering alloys, electrical contacts, and printed circuits. Atomic number 47; atomic weight 107.868; melting point 961.78°C; boiling point 2,162°C; specific gravity 10.50 (20°C); valence 1, 2. See Periodic Table.

Like silver in colour or appearance; shiny and grey-white

This metallic element as a commodity or medium of exchange.

(of a sound) gentle, clear, and melodious

Coins made of this metallic element.

Containing or coated with silver.

A medal made of silver awarded to one placing second in a competition, as in the Olympics.

Resembling silver in color or luster

Domestic articles, such as tableware, made of or plated with silver.

Having a clear, softly resonant sound

Tableware, especially eating and serving utensils, made of steel or another metal.

Resembling silver in color, shiny white.

A lustrous medium gray.

Sprinkled or covered with silver.

A silver salt, especially silver nitrate, used to sensitize paper.

Having the clear, musical tone of silver; soft and clear in sound.

Made of or containing silver

Resembling, or having the luster of, silver; grayish white and lustrous; of a mild luster; bright.

Resembling silver, especially in having a lustrous shine; silvery.

Besprinkled or covered with silver.

Of a lustrous medium gray

Having the clear, musical tone of silver; soft and clear in sound; as, silvery voices; a silvery laugh.

Having a soft, clear, resonant sound.

Lustrous gray; covered with or tinged with the color of silver;

Eloquent; persuasive

Resembling or reminiscent of silver;

Favoring the adoption of silver as a standard of currency

Having the white lustrous sheen of silver;

Of or constituting a 25th anniversary.

To cover, plate, or adorn with silver or a similar lustrous substance.

To give a silver color to.

To coat (photographic paper) with a film of silver nitrate or other silver salt.

To become silvery.

(uncountable) A lustrous, white, metallic element, atomic number 47, atomic weight 107.87, symbol Ag.

Coins made from silver or any similar white metal.

Cutlery and other eating utensils, whether silver or made from some other white metal.

Any items made from silver or any other white metal.

(uncountable) A shiny gray color.

(countable) a silver medal

Anything resembling silver; something shiny and white.

Made from silver.

Made from another white metal.

Having a color like silver: a shiny gray.

Denoting the twenty-fifth anniversary, especially of a wedding.

(of commercial services) Premium, but inferior to gold.

Having the clear, musical tone of silver; soft and clear in sound.

To acquire a silvery colour.

To cover with silver, or with a silvery metal.

To polish like silver; to impart a brightness to, like that of silver.

To make hoary, or white, like silver.

A soft white metallic element, sonorous, ductile, very malleable, and capable of a high degree of polish. It is found native, and also combined with sulphur, arsenic, antimony, chlorine, etc., in the minerals argentite, proustite, pyrargyrite, ceragyrite, etc. Silver is one of the "noble" metals, so-called, not being easily oxidized, and is used for coin, jewelry, plate, and a great variety of articles. Symbol Ag (Argentum). Atomic weight 107.7. Specific gravity 10.5.

Coin made of silver; silver money.

Anything having the luster or appearance of silver.

The color of silver.

Of or pertaining to silver; made of silver; as, silver leaf; a silver cup.

Resembling silver.

Precious; costly.

To cover with silver; to give a silvery appearance to by applying a metal of a silvery color; as, to silver a pin; to silver a glass mirror plate with an amalgam of tin and mercury.

To polish like silver; to impart a brightness to, like that of silver.

To make hoary, or white, like silver.

To acquire a silvery color.

A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

Coins made of silver

A light shade of gray

Silverware eating utensils

A medal made of silver (or having the appearance of silver) that is usually awarded for winning second place in a competition

Coat with a layer of silver or a silver amalgam;

Make silver in color;

Turn silver;

Made from or largely consisting of silver;

Having the white lustrous sheen of silver;

Lustrous gray; covered with or tinged with the color of silver;

Expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively;

It depends on the material; if it’s not actual silver, it might not tarnish in the same way.

Tarnished silver can be cleaned with polishing cloths or solutions specifically designed for silver.

Yes, silver has material value as a precious metal, whereas silvery refers only to appearance.

No, silvery describes a color or sheen similar to that of silver, not the material itself.

The price of silver is influenced by market demand, mining supply, and its applications in industry and jewelry.

Yes, animals, especially fish, can be described as silvery if they have a shiny, reflective appearance.

Silver can be a good investment depending on market conditions and its diverse uses in industry and currency.

Silver is used in jewelry, coins, and electronic components.

Reflective, lustrous, metallic.

No, some silver jewelry is sterling silver, which is silver mixed with other metals for strength.