What does auric mean?
"Auric" means of, relating to, or resembling gold, and it carries two distinct uses. In everyday and literary language, it describes anything golden in appearance or character, lending a tone of richness, radiance, and preciousness — one might speak of an auric glow or an auric shimmer. In chemistry, the word has a precise technical meaning: it denotes gold in its trivalent state (oxidation state +3), as in compounds like auric chloride, distinguishing these from "aurous" compounds, in which gold is monovalent. Derived from the Latin "aurum," meaning gold — the source of the element's chemical symbol Au — the word belongs to a small family of gold-related terms including "aureate," "auriferous," and "aureole." While the general sense is relatively rare and somewhat formal or poetic, the chemical sense remains standard in scientific writing, though many modern chemists favor systematic names such as gold(III). Knowing "auric" adds both descriptive color and technical precision to one's vocabulary.
Of, relating to, or resembling gold; having the color or qualities of gold.
"An auric light spilled through the cathedral's high windows at sunset."
Literary and formal register; conveys richness and brilliance.
(Chemistry) Denoting gold in its trivalent state (+3), as in auric chloride or auric oxide.
"The solution contained auric ions reduced from the dissolved gold salt."
Contrasts with "aurous" (gold in the +1 state); increasingly replaced by systematic naming such as gold(III).
In chemistry, gold gets two adjectives — "aurous" for its +1 state and "auric" for its +3 state — a rare linguistic split for a single element.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of auric
The word "auric" derives from the Latin "aurum," meaning gold, which also gives the metal its chemical symbol Au. It entered English in the early 19th century, primarily through the vocabulary of chemistry, where it was coined alongside "aurous" to distinguish gold's two common oxidation states — "auric" for the trivalent (+3) form and "aurous" for the monovalent (+1) form. It shares its root with related English words drawn from the same Latin stem, including "aureate," "auriferous," and "aureole," all carrying the sense of gold or golden brilliance.
How auric is actually used
The general sense (golden, gold-like) appears mostly in literary or descriptive writing and carries connotations of richness and brilliance. The chemical sense is technical and largely confined to scientific contexts, where it contrasts with "aurous" (gold in the +1 state); modern chemists often prefer explicit notation such as gold(III) over the older "auric."
Easily confused with auric
"Aural" relates to the ear or hearing, while "auric" relates to gold.