polish
1pol·ish
verb \ˈpä-lish\Definition of POLISH
transitive verb
1
: to make smooth and glossy usually by friction : burnish
2
: to smooth, soften, or refine in manners or condition
3
: to bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state : perfect
intransitive verb
: to become smooth or glossy by or as if by friction
— pol·ish·er noun
Examples of POLISH
- He spent the summer polishing his math skills.
- <you'll need to polish your shoes with a clean rag before the performance>
Origin of POLISH
Middle English polisshen, from Anglo-French poliss-, stem of polir, from Latin polire
First Known Use: 14th century
2polish
nounDefinition of POLISH
1
2
: the action or process of polishing
3
: a preparation that is used to produce a gloss and often a color for the protection and decoration of a surface <furniture polish> <nail polish>
Examples of POLISH
- I need more shoe polish.
- Did you use a wax polish on the table or an oil-based one?
- The movie has the polish we've come to expect from that director.
- He's rude and lacks polish.
First Known Use of POLISH
1679
Related to POLISH
- Synonyms
- accomplishment, civilization, couth, cultivation, culture, refinement
- Antonyms
- barbarianism, barbarism, philistinism
1Pol·ish
adjective \ˈpō-lish\Definition of POLISH
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish
Origin of POLISH
Pole
First Known Use: 1592
Other Language Terms
2Polish
nounDefinition of POLISH
: the Slavic language of the Poles
First Known Use of POLISH
1671
Other Language Terms
Learn More About POLISH
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: polishable
Previous Word in the Dictionary: poli–sci
All Words Near: polish
Previous Word in the Dictionary: poli–sci
All Words Near: polish
Seen & Heard 
What made you want to look up polish? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).


See 








