polish Hear it!

polish Definition

pol·ish (päl′is̸h)

transitive verb

    1. to smooth and brighten, as by rubbing
    2. to coat with polish, wax, etc. and make bright or glossy
  2. to improve or refine (someone or someone's manners, appearance, etc.) as by removing crudeness or vulgarity
  3. to complete or embellish (a piece of writing, etc.); finish; perfect

Etymology: ME polischen < inflected stem of OFr polir < L polire, to polish, prob. < IE base *pel-, to drive, impel > felt

intransitive verb

to take a polish; become glossy, elegant, or refined

noun

  1. a surface gloss
  2. elegance, refinement, cultivation, finish, or the like
  3. a substance used for polishing
  4. the act of polishing or condition of being polished

polish Related Forms

pol′·isher noun

polish Idioms

polish off

Informal
  1. to finish (a meal, job, etc.) completely and quickly
  2. to overcome or get rid of (a competitor, enemy, etc.)

polish up

Informal to improve (something)

Polish Definition

Pol·ish (pōl′is̸h)

adjective

of Poland or its people, language, or culture

Etymology: < Pole + -ish

noun

the West Slavic language spoken in Poland

polish Synonyms

polish

n.

shine, burnish, glaze; see finish 2.

polish Synonyms

polish

v.

burnish, buff, shine, brighten, rub, wax, clean, smooth, scour, furbish, finish, varnish, gloss; see also glaze, shine 3.

polish implies rubbing, as with a cloth or tool and, often, an abrasive, paste, etc., to produce a smooth or glossy surface to polish silver, glass, furniture, etc.; burnish specifically suggests the rubbing of metals to make them bright and lustrous burnished steel; buff implies polishing with a stick or tool covered with specially treated leather (originally buffalo hide) or with a soft cloth or pad to buff the fingernails; shine implies making bright and clean by polishing to shine shoes

polish Usage Examples

Object

  • turd: The crew might have been top notch, but in the end they were merely polishing a turd.
  • floorboard: It has polished wooden floorboards throughout except the kitchen which has quarry tiles.
  • brass: Trev had polished the brasses and cleaned the roof, and even hoovered inside and put clean sheets on the bed!
  • steel: The top plate's inner surface is polished stainless steel.
  • cloth: The secrets of a perfect shine is to use the correct texture of polishing cloth.
  • diamond: The " natural " shape for polishing most rough diamonds is often octagonal, which is why many early diamonds are this shape.

Converse of object

apply: Now the nails are prepared you can choose to apply nail polish, or just clear polish for a more natural look.

Adjective modifier

  • abrasive: In order to permanently remove minor swirl marks by hand, we recommend that you first try using a light abrasive polish.
  • handmade: Finished off with a protective coat of handmade beeswax polish and presented on a [ non-leather ] cord thong approx.

Modifies a noun

remover: On a related note acetone in fingernail polish remover can also elicit bizarre almost psychotic behavior in your cat as well.

Noun used with modifier

  • beeswax: Our polish is a cream, unlike most of the available beeswax furniture polishes which are pastes.
  • nail: I never had pretty pink nail polish on or pretty pink dresses " .
  • fingernail: Some use Vaseline, cold cream, baby oil, or fingernail polish.
  • wax: Furniture polish: A very basic wax polish can be produced from these.
  • shoe: Posted by Harriet on 21 March, 2006 at 1:57 PM I've bought navy shoe polish from Morrison's.
  • furniture: Furniture polish: A very basic wax polish can be produced from these.

Followed by a transitive particle

off: We did manage to polish off the beer, a barrel of Red Cuillin donated by Eric.

Adjective complement

smooth: The white of the floor was breathtaking, polished smooth by the annual flow of snow melt.

Preposition: with

cloth: This should just be polished gently with a soft cloth.

Followed by an intransitive particle

off: More care opening car doors; I had a couple of paint marks on the side of the car, they polished off.