doré

Doré is a French adjective meaning golden or gilded, derived from the verb dorer (to gild). In English usage, the term is sometimes adopted to describe gold-colored finishes or effects influenced by French terminology.

In color and design, doré refers to a warm metallic hue resembling gold. It is used in interior design, fashion, and decorative arts to indicate a gold color or a surface finished with gold leaf. In bookbinding and printing, doré describes edges of pages or surfaces finished with gold leaf or gold paint, a practice known as gilding. The technique has been employed since the Middle Ages and remains a term in archival and catalog descriptions.

In heraldry and art, doré appears in French-language descriptions to indicate a gold element, though the official heraldic tincture in English is or.

Doré is also a surname of French origin. Notable individuals include Gustave Doré (1832–1883), a prominent French illustrator renowned for his engravings and illustrations for literature such as Dante, Cervantes, and Balzac. The name is borne by other people and appears in toponyms in French-speaking regions.