polish Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun the property of being smooth and shiny
glossiness; burnish; gloss.
noun a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
culture; cultivation; finish; refinement.
- they performed with great polish
- I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose
- almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art"--Joseph Conrad
noun a preparation used in polishing
noun the Slavic language of Poland
verb make (a surface) shine
shine; smooth; smoothen.
- shine the silver, please
- polish my shoes
verb improve or perfect by pruning or polishing
down; fine-tune; refine.
- refine one's style of writing
verb bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state
polish up; round; brush up; round off.
- polish your social manners
adjective of or relating to Poland or its people or culture
- Polish sausage

From Pole a Polander.

Of or pertaining to Poland or its inhabitants. -- n. The language of the Poles.

F. polir, L. polire. Cf. Polite, -ish

imperfect & past participle Polished ; present participle & verbal noun Polishing

To make smooth and glossy, usually by friction; to burnish; to overspread with luster; as, to polish glass, marble, metals, etc.
Hence, to refine; to wear off the rudeness, coarseness, or rusticity of; to make elegant and polite; as, to polish life or manners. Milton. W. H. Russell.

To become smooth, as from friction; to receive a gloss; to take a smooth and glossy surface; as, steel polishes well. Bacon.

A smooth, glossy surface, usually produced by friction; a gloss or luster.
Another prism of clearer glass and better polish. Sir I. Newton.
Anything used to produce a gloss.
Fig.: Refinement; elegance of manners.
This Roman polish and this smooth behavior. Addison.