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View synonyms for

polish

1

[ pol-ish ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to make smooth and glossy, especially by rubbing or friction:

    to polish a brass doorknob.

    Synonyms: , , , ,

  2. to render finished, refined, or elegant:

    His speech needs polishing.



verb (used without object)

  1. to become smooth and glossy through polishing:

    a flooring that polishes easily.

  2. Archaic. to become refined or elegant.

noun

  1. a substance used to give smoothness or gloss:

    shoe polish.

  2. the act of polishing.
  3. state of being polished.
  4. smoothness and gloss of surface.

    Synonyms: ,

  5. superiority of manner or execution; refinement; elegance:

    the polish of a professional singer.

verb phrase

  1. to improve; refine:

    She took lessons to polish up her speech.

  2. Informal.
    1. to finish or dispose of quickly:

      They polished off a gallon of ice cream between them.

    2. to subdue or get rid of someone:

      The fighter polished off his opponent in the first round.

Polish

2

[ poh-lish ]

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, its inhabitants, or their language.

noun

  1. a Slavic language, the principal language of Poland. : Pol

Polish

1

/ ˈəʊɪʃ /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, its people, or their language
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the official language of Poland, belonging to the West Slavonic branch of the Indo-European family
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

polish

2

/ ˈɒɪʃ /

verb

  1. to make or become smooth and shiny by rubbing, esp with wax or an abrasive
  2. tr to make perfect or complete
  3. to make or become elegant or refined
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a finish or gloss
  2. the act of polishing or the condition of having been polished
  3. a substance used to produce a smooth and shiny, often protective surface
  4. elegance or refinement, esp in style, manner, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈDZ, noun
  • ˈDZ󲹲, adjective
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Other yvlog Forms

  • DZi· noun
  • ·DZi verb (used with object)
  • t·DZi verb (used with object)
  • v·DZi verb (used with object)
  • ·DZi noun verb (used with object)
  • ·DZi verb noun
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of polish1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English polishen, from Middle French poliss-, long stem of polir, from Latin DZī “to polish”; -ish 2

Origin of polish2

First recorded in 1695–1705; Pole + -ish 1
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of polish1

C13 polis, from Old French polir, from Latin DZī to polish
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Idioms and Phrases

  • spit and polish
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Synonym Study

Polish, gloss, luster, sheen refer to a smooth, shining, or bright surface from which light is reflected. Polish suggests the smooth, bright reflection often produced by friction: rubbed to a high polish. Gloss suggests a superficial, hard smoothness characteristic of lacquered, varnished, or enameled surfaces: a gloss on oilcloth, on paper. Luster denotes the characteristic quality of the light reflected from the surfaces of certain materials (pearls, silk, wax, freshly cut metals, etc.): a pearly luster. Sheen, sometimes poetical, suggests a glistening brightness such as that reflected from the surface of silk or velvet, or from furniture oiled and hand-polished: a rich velvety sheen.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“Nothing is polished about it, it’s super raw and really electric in a way that not only I’ve missed, but I think everyone has missed.”

From

John Heitmann, a University of Dayton professor and automobile historian who, in his free time, likes to polish his 1982 Mercedes SL, said that tariffs will have an existential, as well as an economic, impact.

From

Although officially banned for human consumption by the FDA, poppers have been sold openly in thumb-sized bottles marketed — with a wink and a nod — as nail polish remover, liquid incense or VHS tape cleaner.

From

He’s proud that every knife he forges, hammers, grinds and polishes — sometimes taking him more than three days — “feels good in the hand.”

From

Ms Spielman accuses the education secretary of using "polished verbiage and jazz hands" when announcing policies, and claimed some policies had been "influenced by education union leaders and activists".

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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