polished

[ pol-isht ]

/ ˈpɒl ɪʃt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR polished ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

made smooth and glossy: a figurine of polished mahogany.

naturally smooth and glossy: polished pebbles on the beach.

refined, cultured, or elegant: a polished manner.

flawless; skillful; excellent: a polished conversationalist.

Nearby words

polish off, polish people's republic, polish the apple, polish up, polish wheat, polished, polished rice, polit., polit. econ., politburo, polite

Origin of polished

First recorded in 1325–75, polished is from the Middle English word polist. See polish, -ed²

Related formsun·pol·ished, adjectivewell-pol·ished, adjective

Definition for polished (2 of 2)

polish

[ pol-ish ]

/ ˈpɒl ɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

to become smooth and glossy through polishing: a flooring that polishes easily.

Archaic. to become refined or elegant.

noun

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.

Verb Phrases

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

1250–1300; Middle English polishen < Middle French poliss-, long stem of polir < Latin polīre to polish; see -ish²

SYNONYMS FOR polish

1 shine, brighten, burnish, buff, smooth.

8 shine, gleam. 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.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR polish ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

pol·ish·er, nounde·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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for polished

Inside, patrons can sip on bespoke whisky and coffee while getting that buffed and polished look.
The Most Exciting New Hotels, Restaurants, and Submarines of 2014|Charlie Gilbert|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tallinn feels palpably Scandinavian with its polished old-town brick, seaside positioning and glut of cool cafes.
Next Stop, Quito: Our Top Cities for 2015|Brandon Presser|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The DVD was accompanied by a personalized basketball jersey and a piece of polished amber.
Meditation Rugs, Swords, and Horse Head Fiddles: The Strangest Gifts Given to Government Bigwigs|Ben Jacobs|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Coursing beneath the polished surface of the love poems is something deep, dark, and defiant.
Sor Juana: Mexico’s Most Erotic Poet and Its Most Dangerous Nun|Katie Baker|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I would say our girls, if you met any of them, I mean they are polished and poised and strong.
In All-Girls Schools, a Formula for Success|Bobby Blanchard|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Last and most precious was the silver shilling, which she polished carefully with her chamois-skin pen-wiper before putting away.
The Little Colonel: Maid of Honor|Annie Fellows Johnston
A girl in crumpled linen slacks skidded to a fast stop on the polished floor of the Star business office.
Hoofbeats on the Turnpike|Mildred A. Wirt
Nothing daunted, I said nothing, clenched my teeth, and polished off another twenty until dark.
Across America by Motor-cycle|C. K. Shepherd
He took off his glasses, polished them, and stared at his ward.
The Purple Heights|Marie Conway Oemler
And to the ledge itself a polished crown, four inches high; and over the same another little golden crown.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various

British Dictionary definitions for polished (1 of 3)

polished

/ (ˈpɒlɪʃt) /

adjective

accomplisheda polished actor

impeccably or professionally donea polished performance

(of rice) having had the outer husk removed by milling

British Dictionary definitions for polished (2 of 3)

polish

/ (ˈpɒlɪʃ) /

verb

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

noun

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

Word Origin for polish

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

British Dictionary definitions for polished (3 of 3)

Polish

/ (ˈpəʊlɪʃ) /

adjective

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

noun

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

Word Origin and History for polished (1 of 4)

polished

adj.

late 14c., "made smooth;" early 15c., "elegant;" past participle adjective from polish (v.).

Word Origin and History for polished (1 of 4)

polish

early 14c., polischen "make smooth," from Old French poliss-, present participle stem of polir (12c.) "to polish, decorate, see to one's appearance," from Latin polire "to polish, make smooth; decorate, embellish;" figuratively "refine, improve," said to be from Proto-Indo-European *pel- "to thrust, strike, drive" (via the notion of fulling cloth). The sense of "free from coarseness, to refine" first recorded in English mid-14c. Related: Polished; polishing. Slang polish off "finish" is 1837, from notion of applying a coat of polish being the final step in a piece of work.

Word Origin and History for polished (2 of 4)

polish

1590s, "absence of coarseness," from polish (v.). From 1704 as "act of polishing;" 1819 as "substance used in polishing."

Word Origin and History for polished (3 of 4)

Polish

adj.

1670s, from Pole + -ish. Related: Polishness. Polish-American attested from 1898.

Idioms and Phrases with polished

polish

In addition to the idioms beginning with polish

polish off
polish the apple

also see:

spit and polish

polished

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of polished

Definition for polished (2 of 2)

polish

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of polish

Examples from the Web for polished

British Dictionary definitions for polished (1 of 3)

polished

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for polished (2 of 3)

polish

verb

noun

Word Origin for polish

British Dictionary definitions for polished (3 of 3)

Polish

adjective

noun

Word Origin and History for polished (1 of 4)

polished

Word Origin and History for polished (1 of 4)

polish

Word Origin and History for polished (2 of 4)

polish

Word Origin and History for polished (3 of 4)

Polish

Idioms and Phrases with polished

polish