Burnish definition
To improve or make more impressive.
Achievements that burnished her reputation.
verb
A gloss or polish.
noun
To rub with a tool that serves especially to smooth or polish.
verb
A smooth glossy finish or appearance; luster.
noun
To burnish is to polish or shine something by rubbing.
An example of burnish is to shine a bronze statue.
verb
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To make smooth or glossy by rubbing; polish.
verb
To make or become shiny by rubbing; polish.
verb
(intransitive) To shine forth; to brighten; to become smooth and glossy, as from swelling or filling out; hence, to grow large.
verb
Origin of burnish
- Middle English burnishen from Old French burnir burniss- variant of brunir from brun shining of Germanic origin bher-2 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Old French burnir, from its stem burniss-, variant of brunir (“to polish, make brown”).
From Wiktionary