polish

¹

[ pol-ish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to make smooth and glossy, especially by rubbing or friction:

   to polish a brass doorknob.

   Synonyms: smooth, buff, burnish, brighten, shine

2. to render finished, refined, or elegant:

   His speech needs polishing.

verb (used without object)

1. to become smooth and glossy through polishing:

   a flooring that polishes easily.

2. Archaic. to become refined or elegant.

noun

1. a substance used to give smoothness or gloss:

   shoe polish.

2. the act of polishing.
3. state of being polished.
4. smoothness and gloss of surface.

   Synonyms: gleam, shine

5. superiority of manner or execution; refinement; elegance:

   the polish of a professional singer.

verb phrase

1. to improve; refine:

   She took lessons to polish up her speech.

2. Informal.
   1. to finish or dispose of quickly:

      They polished off a gallon of ice cream between them.

   2. to subdue or get rid of someone:

      The fighter polished off his opponent in the first round.

Polish

²

[ poh-lish ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, its inhabitants, or their language.

noun

1. a Slavic language, the principal language of Poland. : Pol

Polish

¹

/ ˈpəʊlɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, its people, or their language

noun

1. the official language of Poland, belonging to the West Slavonic branch of the Indo-European family

polish

²

/ ˈpɒlɪʃ /

verb

1. to make or become smooth and shiny by rubbing, esp with wax or an abrasive
2. tr to make perfect or complete
3. to make or become elegant or refined

noun

1. a finish or gloss
2. the act of polishing or the condition of having been polished
3. a substance used to produce a smooth and shiny, often protective surface
4. elegance or refinement, esp in style, manner, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈpolisher, noun
• ˈpolishable, adjective

Other Words From

• polish·er noun
• de·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

Word History and Origins

Origin of polish¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English polishen, from Middle French poliss-, long stem of polir, from Latin polīre “to polish”; -ish ²

Origin of polish²

First recorded in 1695–1705; Pole + -ish ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of polish¹

C13 polis, from Old French polir, from Latin polīre to polish

Idioms and Phrases

• spit and polish

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Enamel and copper absorb and reflect light in different ways, animating the polished object.

From Los Angeles Times

Absent any activity, his shop stands frozen in time: a commendation from the city and a photograph of his father on the wall, racks of shoe polish, laces and an empty gumball machine.

From Los Angeles Times

It is not hard to see the parallels between then and now, when we once again have a plain-speaking working class northerner as deputy prime minister to a polished North London lawyer.

From BBC

This is a sentiment echoed by Lucas Lane, 15, who runs an online business selling nail polish to boys.

From BBC

He routinely gets a manicure and a glossy white polish applied to his fingernails.

From Los Angeles Times