Gilt means covered with a thin layer of gold, or something that looks like gold. When a picture frame is gilt, it has been coated with real gold or gold-colored paint to make it gleam and look expensive. Museums often display paintings in gilt frames because the golden shine makes the artwork feel more important and valuable.

For centuries, craftspeople have applied thin sheets of gold leaf (gold hammered so thin you can almost see through it) to furniture, books, statues, and building decorations. A gilt chair in a palace might have intricate carvings covered in real gold, while a gilt trophy might just have gold-colored paint.

Be careful not to confuse gilt with guilt, which sounds exactly the same but means the uncomfortable feeling you get when you've done something wrong. You might feel guilt about breaking a rule, but you'd admire the gilt finish on an ornate mirror.