polish

Formspolishes, polishing, polished

Pluralpolishes

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To create a shine or a very smooth finish on something using friction, cleaning, or abrasion.

   Jewelers polish rough stones on a spinning wheel until the facets catch the light.

   She spent the morning polishing up the silver for the dinner party.

   Similarshine, buff, burnish

   Oppositetarnish, dull

2. 2
   adjective · Polish

   Of, from or native to Poland, or relating to the language of Poland.

   The deli on the corner sells Polish sausages and dark rye bread.

   Polish spelling uses letters such as ł and ż that English does not have.

3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A substance rubbed onto a surface to make it smooth and shiny.

   She keeps a tin of brass polish under the kitchen sink.

   Different polishes are made for wood, metal and leather.

4. 4
   SayPOH-lishUS/ˈpoʊlɪʃ/UK/ˈpəʊlɪʃ/

   noun · Polishuncountable

   The Slavic language spoken in Poland.

   The menu was printed in both Polish and English.

   She translates technical manuals from Polish into German.

5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To refine something by removing its imperfections.

   Editors polish the final draft before it goes to print.

   She spent the weekend polishing her speech for the conference.

   Similarrefine, perfect, improve, hone

6. 6
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Refinement; a clean, finished quality in the way something is performed or presented.

   The young pianist played with a polish beyond her years.

   The final version of the app has the polish the test release lacked.

   Similarfinesse, refinement, sophistication, elegance

7. 7
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Cleanness, smoothness and shine, especially of a surface.

   The jeweler buffed the silver ring to a mirror polish.

   Years of handling had given the wooden banister a soft polish.

   Similarshine, sheen, gloss, luster

8. 8
   verbtransitive

   To give shoes a coating of shoe polish.

   Recruits polish their dress shoes each night, working the black paste into the leather.

   He polished his loafers with an old rag before the interview.

   Similarshine, buff

9. 9
   verbtransitive

   To refine someone or something by wearing away rudeness, coarseness or rustic manners, making them elegant and polite.

   Boarding schools once promised to polish the sons of farmers into gentlemen.

   Two seasons in society had polished her into a confident, gracious hostess.

   Similarrefine, civilize

10. 10
    verbintransitive

    To take on a smooth, glossy surface, as through friction.

    Hardwoods such as maple polish to a deep shine.

    The brass rail has polished bright where thousands of hands have gripped it.

11. 11
    SayPOH-lishUS/ˈpoʊlɪʃ/UK/ˈpəʊlɪʃ/

    noun · Polishuncountable

    A breed of chicken with a large crest of feathers on its head.

    The Polish is easy to spot in any flock, its crest of feathers spilling over its eyes.

    Breeders of show poultry prize Polish for their dramatic crests.

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