Hypertext Webster Gateway: "polish"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Polish \Pol"ish\, a. [From {Pole} a Polander.]
Of or pertaining to Poland or its inhabitants. -- n. The
language of the Poles.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Polish \Pol"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Polished}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Polishing}.] [F. polir, L. polire. Cf. {Polite}, {-ish}]
1. To make smooth and glossy, usually by friction; to
burnish; to overspread with luster; as, to polish glass,
marble, metals, etc.
2. Hence, to refine; to wear off the rudeness, coarseness, or
rusticity of; to make elegant and polite; as, to polish
life or manners. --Milton.
{To polish off}, to finish completely, as an adversary.
[Slang] --W. H. Russell.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Polish \Pol"ish\, v. i.
To become smooth, as from friction; to receive a gloss; to
take a smooth and glossy surface; as, steel polishes well.
--Bacon.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Polish \Pol"ish\, n.
1. A smooth, glossy surface, usually produced by friction; a
gloss or luster.
Another prism of clearer glass and better polish.
--Sir I.
Newton.
2. Anything used to produce a gloss.
3. Fig.: Refinement; elegance of manners.
This Roman polish and this smooth behavior.
--Addison.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
Polish
adj : of or relating to Poland or its people or culture; "Polish
sausage" [syn: {Polish}]
n 1: the property of being smooth and shiny [syn: {gloss}, {glossiness},
{burnish}]
2: a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or
impeccable quality; "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 [syn: {refinement}, {culture},
{cultivation}, {finish}]
3: a preparation used in polishing
4: the Slavic language of Poland [syn: {Polish}]
v 1: (of surfaces) make shine; "shine the silver, please";
"polish my shoes" [syn: {smooth}, {smoothen}, {shine}]
2: improve or perfect by pruning or polishing; "refine one's
style of writing" [syn: {refine}, {fine-tune}, {down}]
3: make shiny [syn: {gloss}]
4: bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state;
"polish your social manners" [syn: {round}, {round off}, {polish
up}, {brush up}]
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