burnish

[ bur-nish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to polish (a surface) by friction.

   Synonyms: shine, buff

2. to make smooth and bright.
3. Engraving. to flatten and enlarge the dots of (a halftone) by rubbing with a tool.

noun

1. gloss; brightness; luster:

   the burnish of brass andirons.

burnish

/ ˈbɜːnɪʃ /

verb

1. to make or become shiny or smooth by friction; polish

noun

1. a shiny finish; lustre

Derived Forms

• ˈburnishable, adjective
• ˈburnisher, noun

Other Words From

• burnish·a·ble adjective
• burnish·ment noun
• un·burnished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of burnish¹

1275–1325; Middle English burnissh < Anglo-French burniss-, Middle French bruniss- (long stem of burnir, brunir to darken, polish), equivalent to brun- brown + -iss- -ish ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of burnish¹

C14 burnischen , from Old French brunir to make brown, from brun brown

Example Sentences

Sandoval has also managed to burnish his image with a patina of integrity in the scandal-scarred Silver State.

From The Daily Beast

This means that even women who are not employed in factories will get the chance to burnish career-building skills.

From The Daily Beast

At this point, it is the only way for the Brothers to burnish their revolutionary credentials.

From The Daily Beast

For Palin, of course, Israel also offers a chance to burnish her famously weak foreign policy credentials.

From The Daily Beast

In 1961, Kennedy took a Latin American trip to burnish credentials for a 1962 Senate bid.

From The Daily Beast

Sainton, more annoyed than he cared to show, drew his long neglected sword and began to burnish it affectionately.

From Project Gutenberg

How strangly does it burnish a Character, and oblige ones Reputation?

From Project Gutenberg

The lectern he had done his best to burnish; but it was still a cripple from the fire.

From Project Gutenberg

They could burnish gold and it stays as bright as when it was first applied to the leaves, even after seven centuries.

From Project Gutenberg

With the pallid first,And next the burnish'd, he so ply'd the gate,As to content me well.

From Project Gutenberg