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Webster 1913 Edition


Polish

Pol′ish

,
Adj.
[From
Pole
a Polander.]
Of or pertaining to Poland or its inhabitants.
Noun.
The language of the Poles.

Pol′ish

,
Verb.
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.

Pol′ish

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

Pol′ish

,
Noun.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Polish

PO'LISH

,
Adj.
Pertaining to Poland, a level country on the south of Russia and the Baltic.

Definition 2024


Polish

Polish

See also: polish

English

Alternative forms

  • (abbreviation): Pl.

Adjective

Polish (not comparable)

  1. Of, from or native to Poland, or relating to the Polish language.

Derived terms

Translations

Proper noun

Polish

  1. The language spoken in Poland.

Translations

See also

polish

polish

See also: Polish

English

Noun

polish (countable and uncountable, plural polishes)

  1. A substance used to polish.
    A good silver polish will remove tarnish easily.
  2. Cleanliness; smoothness, shininess.
    The floor was waxed to a high polish.
  3. Refinement; cleanliness in performance or presentation.
    The lecturer showed a lot of polish at his last talk.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Verb

polish (third-person singular simple present polishes, present participle polishing, simple past and past participle polished)

  1. (transitive) To shine; to make a surface very smooth or shiny by rubbing, cleaning, or grinding.
    He polished up the chrome until it gleamed.
  2. (transitive) To refine; remove imperfections from.
    The band has polished its performance since the last concert.
  3. (transitive) To apply shoe polish to shoes.
  4. (intransitive) To become smooth, as from friction; to receive a gloss; to take a smooth and glossy surface.
    Steel polishes well.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)
  5. (transitive) To refine; to wear off the rudeness, coarseness, or rusticity of; to make elegant and polite.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also