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   polish

   /ˈpɒlɪʃ/

   verb

   • 1. make the surface of (something) smooth and shiny by rubbing it: "behind the bar the steward polished glasses busily" Similar shinewaxbuffrub uprub downglossburnishbrightensmoothvarnishoilglazelacquerenameljapanshellacarchaic:furbish
   • ▪ improve, refine, or add the finishing touches to: "after you and your editor have polished the manuscript, the copyeditors read it" Similar perfectrefineimprovehoneembellishenhanceput the finishing/final touches tobrush uprevisecopy-editcorrectemendrewriterephraserescriptgo overtouch upfinish offinformal:clean up

   noun

   • 1. a substance used to give something a smooth and shiny surface when rubbed in: "a tin of shoe polish" Similar waxvarnishglazelacquerenameljapanshellac
   • ▪ an act of rubbing something to give it a shiny surface: "I could give the wardrobe a polish"
   • ▪ smoothness or glossiness produced by rubbing or friction: "the machine refines the shape of the stone and gives it polish" Similar shineglosslustresheensparklepatinafinishsmoothness
   • ▪ refinement or elegance in a person or thing: "his poetry has clarity and polish" Similar sophisticationrefinementurbanitysuavitysuavenesselegancestylegracefinishaccomplishmentfinessesubtletydistinctiontastecultivationculturepolitenesscivilitygentilitybreedingcourtesycourteousness(good) mannersinformal:classhumorous:couth

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French poliss-, lengthened stem of polir ‘to polish’, from Latin polire.

   Derivatives

   • 1. polishable adjective
   • 2. polisher noun

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • L

     1

   • I

     1

   • S

     1

   • H

     4

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