polish Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the property of being smooth and shiny
    glossiness; burnish; gloss.
  2. noun a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
    culture; cultivation; finish; refinement.
    • they performed with great polish
    • I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose
    • almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art"--Joseph Conrad
  3. noun a preparation used in polishing
  4. noun the Slavic language of Poland
  5. verb make (a surface) shine
    shine; smooth; smoothen.
    • shine the silver, please
    • polish my shoes
  6. verb improve or perfect by pruning or polishing
    down; fine-tune; refine.
    • refine one's style of writing
  7. verb bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state
    polish up; round; brush up; round off.
    • polish your social manners
  8. adjective of or relating to Poland or its people or culture
    • Polish sausage

WordNet


Pol"ish adjective
Etymology
From Pole a Polander.
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to Poland or its inhabitants. -- n. The language of the Poles.
Pol"ish transitive verb
Etymology
F. polir, L. polire. Cf. Polite, -ish
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Polished ; present participle & verbal noun Polishing
Definitions
  1. To make smooth and glossy, usually by friction; to burnish; to overspread with luster; as, to polish glass, marble, metals, etc.
  2. Hence, to refine; to wear off the rudeness, coarseness, or rusticity of; to make elegant and polite; as, to polish life or manners. Milton. W. H. Russell.
Pol"ish intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To become smooth, as from friction; to receive a gloss; to take a smooth and glossy surface; as, steel polishes well. Bacon.
Pol"ish noun
Definitions
  1. A smooth, glossy surface, usually produced by friction; a gloss or luster.
    Another prism of clearer glass and better polish. Sir I. Newton.
  2. Anything used to produce a gloss.
  3. Fig.: Refinement; elegance of manners.
    This Roman polish and this smooth behavior. Addison.

Webster 1913