polish
to make smooth and glossy, especially by rubbing or friction: to polish a brass doorknob.
to render finished, refined, or elegant: His speech needs polishing.
to become smooth and glossy through polishing: a flooring that polishes easily.
Archaic. to become refined or elegant.
a substance used to give smoothness or gloss: shoe polish.
the act of polishing.
state of being polished.
smoothness and gloss of surface.
superiority of manner or execution; refinement; elegance: the polish of a professional singer.
polish off, Informal.
to finish or dispose of quickly: They polished off a gallon of ice cream between them.
to subdue or get rid of someone: The fighter polished off his opponent in the first round.
polish up, to improve; refine: She took lessons to polish up her speech.
Origin of polish
1synonym study For polish
Other words for polish
Other words from polish
- pol·ish·er, noun
- de·pol·ish, verb (used with object)
- in·ter·pol·ish, verb (used with object)
- o·ver·pol·ish, verb (used with object)
- pre·pol·ish, noun, verb (used with object)
- re·pol·ish, verb, noun
Words Nearby polish
Other definitions for Polish (2 of 2)
of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, its inhabitants, or their language.
a Slavic language, the principal language of Poland. Abbreviation: Pol
Origin of Polish
2Other words from Polish
- anti-Polish, noun, adjective
- non-Polish, adjective, noun
- pre-Polish, adjective
- pro-Polish, adjective
- pseudo-Polish, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use polish in a sentence
Sophie Tyl has run a polish bakery called Siedem Roz for 16 years and is thinking of closing because so few of her customers are coming in for cookies and breads anymore.
The Big Corporate Rescue and the America That’s Too Small to Save | by Lydia DePillis, Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel | September 12, 2020 | ProPublicaApple’s making App Store changes, China might stop TikTok’s acquisition and we talk to polish venture capitalists about the startup scene.
“Every parent who wants their kid to be well-equipped for the job market should be excited if they learn polish,” says Patrick Dahlemann, the state secretary responsible for the border region of Western Pomerania.
Every parent who wants their kid to be well-equipped for the job market should be excited if they learn polish.
A decade ago, about 10 percent of children at the Randow-Spatzen school had at least one polish-speaking parent, Lejeune estimates.
“Gronkowski” itself never manages to sound more erotic than the name of a hearty polish stew or a D-list WWE performer.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits | Emily Shire | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTSzymon Oltarzewski is a polish-born artisan who is also a sculptor in his own right.
Not only was he known as one of the blessed polish priests who Pope John Paul II ordained before he became pope.
Did the Vatican Arrest an Abuser to Protect Him? | Barbie Latza Nadeau | September 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFor Aga Malarczyk, 37, one of more than 50,000 polish citizens living in Scotland, this is a deal breaker.
Morrison handed her a “Yes” campaign leaflet printed in polish.
The polish insurgents surrendered to the Prussian troops, after great slaughter, at Posen.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellIt is a fine marble, much too hard to admit of minute carving, but taking a high polish.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.It is of an exceedingly hard, densely compact nature; from its hardness difficult to work, but susceptible of a very high polish.
Asbestos | Robert H. JonesEven in the same scene, time will alter every form, and render the exquisite polish of last year, obsolete rudeness next year.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence HartleyA few scratches here and there marred the polish of the frame and one cushion had sustained an ugly rent.
Dorothy at Skyrie | Evelyn Raymond
British Dictionary definitions for polish (1 of 2)
/ (ˈpɒlɪʃ) /
to make or become smooth and shiny by rubbing, esp with wax or an abrasive
(tr) to make perfect or complete
to make or become elegant or refined
a finish or gloss
the act of polishing or the condition of having been polished
a substance used to produce a smooth and shiny, often protective surface
elegance or refinement, esp in style, manner, etc
Origin of polish
1- See also polish off, polish up
Derived forms of polish
- polishable, adjective
- polisher, noun
British Dictionary definitions for Polish (2 of 2)
/ (ˈpəʊlɪʃ) /
of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, its people, or their language
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with polish
In addition to the idioms beginning with polish
- polish off
- polish the apple
also see:
- spit and polish
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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