burnish

American  

[bur-nish] / ˈbɜr nɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to polish (a surface) by friction.

   Synonyms:

   shine, buff

2. to make smooth and bright.

3. Engraving. to flatten and enlarge the dots of (a halftone) by rubbing with a tool.

---

noun

1. gloss; brightness; luster.

   the burnish of brass andirons.

burnish British  

/ ˈbɜːnɪʃ /

verb

1. to make or become shiny or smooth by friction; polish

---

noun

1. a shiny finish; lustre

Other Word Forms

• burnishable adjective
• burnisher noun
• burnishment noun
• unburnished adjective

Etymology

Origin of burnish

1275–1325; Middle English burnissh < Anglo-French burniss-, Middle French bruniss- (long stem of burnir, brunir to darken, polish), equivalent to brun- brown + -iss- -ish ²

Example Sentences

With his practiced executive scowl and scripted boardroom catchphrase, “You’re fired!,” the show burnished his image as a decisive billionaire dealmaker, even as his real-life business results were far less impressive.

From Los Angeles Times

Tourism is a pillar of Middle Eastern governments’ quest to diversify and burnish their standing on the world stage.

From The Wall Street Journal

Tech billionaires looking to burnish their image seem to believe that the work ethic is an expendable feature of a free-market society.

From The Wall Street Journal

To many, the sight of Paul being clapped into cuffs may have even burnished her renegade image.

From Salon

This is the second time in four years that a massive energy disruption is poised to burnish the U.S’s status as an energy superpower.

From The Wall Street Journal