First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1polish
verb pol·ish \ˈpä-lish\
: to make (something) smooth and shiny by rubbing it
: to improve (something) : to make (something) better than it was before
: to put nail polish on (a fingernail or toenail)
Full Definition of POLISH
transitive verb
1
: to make smooth and glossy usually by friction : burnish
2
: to smooth, soften, or refine in manners or condition
3
: to bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state : perfect
intransitive verb
: to become smooth or glossy by or as if by friction
— pol·ish·er noun
See polish defined for English-language learners
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Origin of POLISH
Middle English polisshen, from Anglo-French poliss-, stem of polir, from Latin polire
2polish
noun
: a substance that is rubbed on a surface to make it smooth and shiny
: a smooth and shiny surface
: good quality or style that comes from practice or effort
Full Definition of POLISH
1
2
: the action or process of polishing
3
: a preparation that is used to produce a gloss and often a color for the protection and decoration of a surface <furniture polish> <nail polish>
See polish defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of POLISH
1679
Related to POLISH
- Synonyms
- accomplishment, civilization, couth, cultivation, culture, refinement
- Antonyms
- barbarianism, barbarism, philistinism
1Polish
adjective Pol·ish \ˈpō-lish\
Definition of POLISH
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish
See Polish defined for kids Origin of POLISH
Pole
First Known Use: 1592
Other Language Terms
2Polish
noun
: the language of Poland
the Polish : the people of Poland
Full Definition of POLISH
: the Slavic language of the Poles
See Polish defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of POLISH
1671
Other Language Terms
POLISH Defined for Kids
1polish
verb pol·ish \ˈpä-lish\
pol·ishedpol·ish·ing
Definition of POLISH for Kids
1
: to make smooth and shiny usually by rubbing <polish silver>
2
: to improve in manners, condition, or style <I took a few hours to polish my speech.>
— pol·ish·er noun
— polish off
: to finish completely <We polished off the whole cake.>
2polish
noun
Definition of POLISH for Kids
1
: a smooth and shiny surface <the polish of the table>
2
: a substance for making a surface smooth and shiny <shoe polish> <metal polish>
3
: good manners : refinement
1Polish
adjective Pol·ish \ˈpō-lish\
Definition of POLISH for Kids
: of or relating to Poland, the Poles, or Polish
2Polish
noun
Definition of POLISH for Kids
: the language of the Poles
Learn More About POLISH
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