Origin of polish

1250–1300; Middle English polishen < Middle French poliss-, long stem of polir < Latin polīre to polish; see -ish2

SYNONYMS FOR polish

8 shine, gleam. Polish, gloss, luster, sheen refer to a smooth, shining, or bright surface from which light is reflected. Polish suggests the smooth, bright reflection often produced by friction: rubbed to a high polish. Gloss suggests a superficial, hard smoothness characteristic of lacquered, varnished, or enameled surfaces: a gloss on oilcloth, on paper. Luster denotes the characteristic quality of the light reflected from the surfaces of certain materials (pearls, silk, wax, freshly cut metals, etc.): a pearly luster. Sheen, sometimes poetical, suggests a glistening brightness such as that reflected from the surface of silk or velvet, or from furniture oiled and hand-polished: a rich velvety sheen.

OTHER WORDS FROM polish

British Dictionary definitions for polish up (1 of 3)

polish up

verb (adverb)

to make or become smooth and shiny by polishing
(when intr, foll by on) to study or practise until adept at; improve polish up your spelling; he's polishing up on his German

British Dictionary definitions for polish up (2 of 3)

polish
/ (ˈpɒlɪʃ) /

verb

to make or become smooth and shiny by rubbing, esp with wax or an abrasive
(tr) to make perfect or complete
to make or become elegant or refined

noun

See also polish off, polish up

Derived forms of polish

polishable, adjective polisher, noun

Word Origin for polish

C13 polis, from Old French polir, from Latin polīre to polish

British Dictionary definitions for polish up (3 of 3)

Polish
/ (ˈpəʊlɪʃ) /

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, its people, or their language

noun

the official language of Poland, belonging to the West Slavonic branch of the Indo-European family

Idioms and Phrases with polish up

polish