burnish Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the property of being smooth and shiny
    glossiness; polish; gloss.
  2. verb polish and make shiny
    furbish; buff.
    • buff the wooden floors
    • buff my shoes

WordNet

Bur"nish transitive verb
Etymology
OE. burnischen, burnissen, burnen, OF. burnir, brunir, to make brown, polish, F. brunir, fr. F. brun brown, fr. OHG. brn; cf. MHG. briunen to make brown, polish. See Brown, a.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Burnished present participle & verbal noun Burnishing
Definitions
  1. To cause to shine; to make smooth and bright; to polish; specifically, to polish by rubbing with something hard and smooth; as, to burnish brass or paper.
    The frame of burnished steel, that east a glare From far, and seemed to thaw the freezing air. Dryden.
    Now the village windows blaze, Burnished by the setting sun. Cunningham.
Bur"nish intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To shine forth; to brighten; to become smooth and glossy, as from swelling or filling out; hence, to grow large.
    A slender poet must have time to grow, And spread and burnish as his brothers do. Dryden.
    My thoughts began to burnish, sprout, and swell. Herbert.
Bur"nish noun
Definitions
  1. The effect of burnishing; gloss; brightness; luster. Crashaw.

Webster 1913