sterling

¹

[ stur-ling ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or noting British money:

   The sterling equivalent is #5.50.

2. (of silver) having the standard fineness of 0.925.
3. made of silver of this fineness:

   a sterling teapot.

4. thoroughly excellent:

   a man of sterling worth.

   Synonyms: first-rate, worthy, honorable, noble

noun

1. British currency.
2. the standard of fineness for gold and silver coin in the United Kingdom, 0.91666 for gold and 0.500 for silver.
3. Also called sterling silver. silver having a fineness of 0.925, now used especially in the manufacture of table utensils, jewelry, etc.
4. manufactured articles of sterling silver.
5. sterling flatware.

Sterling

²

[ stur-ling ]

noun

1. a city in NW Illinois.
2. a city in NE Colorado.
3. a male given name.

sterling

¹

/ ˈstɜːlɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. British money

      pound sterling

   2. ( as modifier )

      sterling reserves

2. the official standard of fineness of British coins: for gold 0.91666 and for silver 0.925
3. 1. short for sterling silver
   2. ( as modifier )

      a sterling bracelet

4. an article or articles manufactured from sterling silver
5. a former British silver penny

adjective

1. prenominal genuine and reliable; first-class

   sterling quality

Sterling

²

/ ˈstɜːlɪŋ /

noun

1. SterlingPeter1960MAustralianSPORT AND GAMES: rugby league player Peter. born 1960, Australian rugby league player: played 18 matches for Australia (1982–88)

Other Words From

• sterling·ly adverb
• sterling·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sterling¹

1250–1300; Middle English: name of a silver coin ( star, -ling ¹ ), with reference to the little star on some of the mintages

Word History and Origins

Origin of sterling¹

C13: probably from Old English steorra star + -ling ¹; referring to a small star on early Norman pennies; related to Old French esterlin

Example Sentences

With a sterling record of busting down doors and arresting armed suspects over her decade in SWAT, Los Angeles police Lt.

From Los Angeles Times

I don’t know who’s telling the truth, a practice for which neither man has a sterling reputation.

From Slate

Meanwhile in New York, state police are investigating the death of Dariel Vasquez, a teenaged state parks employee who was killed while fighting a large brush fire in Sterling Forest, near the New Jersey line.

From Salon

Stopping by Amazon's live election coverage and speaking to host Brian Williams, the Clinton campaign adviser said that "early indications here are not sterling."

From Salon

O'Donnell went on to create the TV drama “Mister Sterling” as well as playing a recurring role in HBO's “Big Love.”

From Salon

Related Words

• admirable
• excellent
• first-rate
• magnificent
• marvelous
• outstanding
• splendid
• stunning