guild

C1 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ɡɪld/ UK /ɡɪld/ See IPA manual

Homophones

gild /ɡɪld/

Freq #12357

Meanings

1

noun
an association of merchants or craftspeople formed to regulate a trade, protect common interests, and provide mutual support

The medieval weavers' guild controlled apprenticeships and standards of workmanship.
2

noun
an organized group of people who share a profession, activity, or purpose

The writers' guild negotiated new contract terms for its members.
3

noun
in ecology, a group of species that use the same class of resources in a similar way

Ecologists recorded a guild of insect-eating birds in the forest canopy.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an association of merchants... trade associationcraft association

2 noun · an organized group of... association society union

3 noun · in ecology, a group of... ecological groupfunctional group

Word family

Forms guilds

Derived forms guildhallguildmasterguildmateguildsman

Related forms craft trade fraternity geld yield

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

guild socialism
a socialist theory proposing public ownership and worker-guild management of industry

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English gilde, probably from Old Norse gildi, 'payment, feast, or guild,' related to geld, 'payment,' and yield. The shared payment or contribution made by members gave its name to the association itself.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# guild

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɡɪld/
**IPA (UK):** /ɡɪld/
**Frequency rank:** 12357

## Meanings
1. an association of merchants or craftspeople formed to regulate a trade, protect common interests, and provide mutual support
2. an organized group of people who share a profession, activity, or purpose
3. in ecology, a group of species that use the same class of resources in a similar way

## Examples
- The medieval weavers' guild controlled apprenticeships and standards of workmanship.
- The writers' guild negotiated new contract terms for its members.
- Ecologists recorded a guild of insect-eating birds in the forest canopy.

## Synonyms
- trade association
- association
- society
- union

## Derived Forms
- guildhall
- guildmaster
- guildmate
- guildsman

## Related Forms
- craft
- trade
- fraternity
- geld
- yield

## Etymology
From Middle English gilde, probably from Old Norse gildi, 'payment, feast, or guild,' related to geld, 'payment,' and yield. The shared payment or contribution made by members gave its name to the association itself.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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