- polish
-
—polisher, n./pol"ish/, v.t.1. to make smooth and glossy, esp. by rubbing or friction: to polish a brass doorknob.2. to render finished, refined, or elegant: His speech needs polishing.v.i.3. to become smooth and glossy through polishing: a flooring that polishes easily.4. Archaic. to become refined or elegant.5. polish off, Informal.a. to finish or dispose of quickly: They polished off a gallon of ice cream between them.b. to subdue or get rid of someone: The fighter polished off his opponent in the first round.6. polish up, to improve; refine: She took lessons to polish up her speech.n.7. a substance used to give smoothness or gloss: shoe polish.8. the act of polishing.9. state of being polished.10. smoothness and gloss of surface.11. superiority of manner or execution; refinement; elegance: the polish of a professional singer.[1250-1300; ME polishen < MF poliss-, long s. of polir < L polire to polish; see -ISH2]Syn. 1. shine, brighten, burnish, buff, smooth. 10. shine, gleam. POLISH, GLOSS, LUSTER, SHEEN refer to a smooth, shining, or bright surface from which light is reflected. POLISH suggests the smooth, bright reflection often produced by friction: rubbed to a high polish. GLOSS suggests a superficial, hard smoothness characteristic of lacquered, varnished, or enameled surfaces: a gloss on oilcloth, on paper.LUSTER denotes the characteristic quality of the light reflected from the surfaces of certain materials (pearls, silk, wax, freshly cut metals, etc.): a pearly luster. SHEEN, sometimes poetical, suggests a glistening brightness such as that reflected from the surface of silk or velvet, or from furniture oiled and hand-polished: a rich velvety sheen.
* * *
(as used in expressions)Polish Succession War of the* * *
Universalium. 2010.
