Kyphosus vaigiensis, a fish found in southeast Asia.
"The local aquarium specializes in exotic marine life, including the rare golden bream from Southeast Asian waters."
"The golden in my pocket was enough to buy a week's worth of groceries."
Usage: Do not use "golden" to refer to the Kyphosus vaigiensis fish unless you are writing a specialized biological text; in everyday conversation, this word functions as an adjective describing color or quality rather than standing alone as a noun for that species.
To become gold or golden (in colour).
"The leaves began to turn golden as autumn arrived."
In plain English: To make something look shiny and valuable by covering it with a thin layer of gold.
"The sun goldened the dusty fields with warm light."
Usage: The verb form of "golden," meaning to turn into gold or take on a golden color, is extremely rare and often sounds poetic or archaic in everyday speech. In most modern contexts, you should use the adjective "golden" to describe something that already has that color rather than trying to conjugate it as an action.
marked by peace and prosperity
"a golden era"
"the halcyon days of the clipper trade"
presaging or likely to bring good luck or a good outcome
"a favorable time to ask for a raise"
"lucky stars"
"a prosperous moment to make a decision"
Made of, or relating to, gold.
"The king's crown was crafted from pure golden metal that shimmered in the sunlight."
In plain English: Golden means having the color of gold or being extremely valuable and special.
"The golden sun set behind the mountains, painting the sky in warm hues."
Usage: Use "golden" to describe something made of actual gold or having a bright yellow color resembling metal, rather than using it metaphorically for success unless the specific idiom calls for it. Reserve the literal sense for physical objects like jewelry or coins, and avoid confusing it with "gold" when referring to abstract achievements.
A surname.
"The Golden family has lived in that small town for three generations."
Golden comes from the Old English word gylden, which is derived from Proto-Germanic roots meaning "made of gold." The modern spelling was restored to match its related noun, gold.