What gold needn’t be (6)

I believe the answer is:

gilded

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

I'm afraid I can't even guess how this answer relates to the clue.

(Other definitions for gilded that I've seen before include "Covered as if with gold" , "Given coat of gold" , "Gold-plated" , "Gold-covered" , "Not marble, nor the - monuments / Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme (Shak., Sonnet 55)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app