gloss
gloss (glôs, gläs)
noun
- the brightness or luster of a smooth, polished surface; sheen
- a deceptively smooth or pleasant outward appearance, as in manners or speech
- lip gloss
Etymology: prob. < Scand, as in Norw dial. glosa, to gleam: for IE base see glass
transitive verb
- to give a polished, shiny surface to; make lustrous
Etymology: a blend of vt. 1 & gloss
to smooth over or cover up (an error, inadequacy, fault, etc.); make appear right by specious argument or by minimizing: often with over
intransitive verb
Related Forms:
- glosser gloss′er noun
gloss (glôs, gläs)
noun
- words of explanation or translation inserted between the lines of a text
- a note of comment or explanation accompanying a text, as in a footnote or margin
- a collection of such notes
- a false or misleading interpretation
Etymology: ME glose < OFr or ML glosa, for L glossa, foreign or strange word needing explanation < Gr glōssa, orig., tongue, language < *glōchia, pointed object < glochis, point < IE base *glogh-, thorn, point > OSlav gloge, thorn
transitive verb
- to furnish (a text) with glosses
- to interpret falsely
intransitive verb
Related Forms:
- glosser gloss′er noun
gloss
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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