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: smooth, buff, burnish, brighten, shine

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: gleam, shine

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

/ ˈpəʊlɪʃ /

adjective

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

noun

1. the official language of Poland, belonging to the West Slavonic branch of the Indo-European family

polish

²

/ ˈpɒlɪʃ /

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

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

Derived Forms

• ˈpolisher, noun
• ˈpolishable, adjective

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of polish¹

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

Origin of polish²

First recorded in 1695–1705; Pole + -ish ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of polish¹

C13 polis, from Old French polir, from Latin polīre to polish

Idioms and Phrases

• spit and polish

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.

Example Sentences

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.

From ProPublica

Apple’s making App Store changes, China might stop TikTok’s acquisition and we talk to Polish venture capitalists about the startup scene.

From TechCrunch

“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.

From Ozy

Every parent who wants their kid to be well-equipped for the job market should be excited if they learn Polish.

From Ozy

A decade ago, about 10 percent of children at the Randow-Spatzen school had at least one Polish-speaking parent, Lejeune estimates.

From Ozy

“Gronkowski” itself never manages to sound more erotic than the name of a hearty Polish stew or a D-list WWE performer.

From The Daily Beast

Szymon Oltarzewski is a Polish-born artisan who is also a sculptor in his own right.

From The Daily Beast

Not only was he known as one of the blessed Polish priests who Pope John Paul II ordained before he became pope.

From The Daily Beast

For Aga Malarczyk, 37, one of more than 50,000 Polish citizens living in Scotland, this is a deal breaker.

From The Daily Beast

Morrison handed her a “Yes” campaign leaflet printed in Polish.

From The Daily Beast

The Polish insurgents surrendered to the Prussian troops, after great slaughter, at Posen.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a fine marble, much too hard to admit of minute carving, but taking a high polish.

From Project Gutenberg

It is of an exceedingly hard, densely compact nature; from its hardness difficult to work, but susceptible of a very high polish.

From Project Gutenberg

Even in the same scene, time will alter every form, and render the exquisite polish of last year, obsolete rudeness next year.

From Project Gutenberg

A few scratches here and there marred the polish of the frame and one cushion had sustained an ugly rent.

From Project Gutenberg