to make smooth and glossy, especially by rubbing or friction: to polish a brass doorknob.
to render finished, refined, or elegant: His speech needs polishing.
verb (used without object)
to become smooth and glossy through polishing: a flooring that polishes easily.
Archaic. to become refined or elegant.
noun
a substance used to give smoothness or gloss: shoe polish.
the act of polishing.
state of being polished.
smoothness and gloss of surface.
superiority of manner or execution; refinement; elegance: the polish of a professional singer.
Verb Phrases
polish off,Informal.
to finish or dispose of quickly: They polished off a gallon of ice cream between them.
to subdue or get rid of someone: The fighter polished off his opponent in the first round.
polish up,to improve; refine: She took lessons to polish up her speech.
Origin of polish
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English polishen, from Middle French poliss-, long stem of polir, from Latin polīre “to polish”; see -ish2
SYNONYMS FOR polish
1 shine, brighten, burnish, buff, smooth.
8 shine, gleam.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR polish ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for polish
8. 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.
OTHER WORDS FROM polish
pol·ish·er,nounde·pol·ish,verb (used with object)in·ter·pol·ish,verb (used with object)o·ver·pol·ish,verb (used with object)
pre·pol·ish,noun,verb (used with object)re·pol·ish,verb,noun
Sophie Tyl has run a Polish bakery called Siedem Roz for 16 years and is thinking of closing because so few of her customers are coming in for cookies and breads anymore.
The Big Corporate Rescue and the America That’s Too Small to Save|by Lydia DePillis, Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel|September 12, 2020|ProPublica
Apple’s making App Store changes, China might stop TikTok’s acquisition and we talk to Polish venture capitalists about the startup scene.
Daily Crunch: Apple revises App Store rules|Anthony Ha|September 11, 2020|TechCrunch
A decade ago, about 10 percent of children at the Randow-Spatzen school had at least one Polish-speaking parent, Lejeune estimates.
Eastern Germany Picks Up Polish for Children’s Future|Charu Kasturi|September 8, 2020|Ozy
“Every parent who wants their kid to be well-equipped for the job market should be excited if they learn Polish,” says Patrick Dahlemann, the state secretary responsible for the border region of Western Pomerania.
Eastern Germany Picks Up Polish for Children’s Future|Charu Kasturi|September 8, 2020|Ozy
Every parent who wants their kid to be well-equipped for the job market should be excited if they learn Polish.
Eastern Germany Picks Up Polish for Children’s Future|Charu Kasturi|September 8, 2020|Ozy
“Gronkowski” itself never manages to sound more erotic than the name of a hearty Polish stew or a D-list WWE performer.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Not only was he known as one of the blessed Polish priests who Pope John Paul II ordained before he became pope.
Did the Vatican Arrest an Abuser to Protect Him?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For Aga Malarczyk, 37, one of more than 50,000 Polish citizens living in Scotland, this is a deal breaker.
Scots Must Choose Heart or Head|Nico Hines|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Morrison handed her a “Yes” campaign leaflet printed in Polish.
Scots Must Choose Heart or Head|Nico Hines|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The soldier launches into a comical strut and pretends to polish his guard box with his knuckles.
Hunt To Identify Pirouetting 'Bearskin' Guardsman Who Shamed Army|Tom Sykes|September 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To polish varnish, rub with a felt pad, powdered pumice-stone and water.
Handwork in Wood|William Noyes
We have had a similar reply, made under like circumstances, in Polish versions of No 4: see p. 40, note.
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (Volume I of 5)|Various
He thought again about what she had said of Polish forests, the dissatisfaction that had followed her for so many years.
The Three Black Pennys|Joseph Hergesheimer
It must be admitted that the Polish peasants benefited by the change.
The Story of Russia|R. Van Bergen, M.A.
The last Polish Krolestvo cyganskie or Gipsy king died in 1790.