/ ˈpɒlɪʃ; NAmE ˈpɑːl-/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U , C ] a substance used when rubbing a surface to make it smooth and shiny :
furniture / floor / shoe / silver polish
wax polish
—see also French polish , nail polish
2.
[ sing. ] an act of polishing sth :
I give it a polish now and again.
3.
[ sing. ] the shiny appearance of sth after it has been polished
SYN lustre , sheen
4.
[ U ] a high quality of performance achieved with great skill
SYN brilliance :
She played the cello with the polish of a much older musician.
5.
[ U ] high standards of behaviour; being polite
SYN refinement
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IDIOMS
see spit noun
■ verb
1.
polish sth (up) (with sth) to make sth smooth and shiny by rubbing it with a cloth, often with polish on it :
[ vn ]
Polish shoes regularly to protect the leather.
He polished his glasses with a handkerchief.
[also v ]
—see also French polish
2.
[ vn ] polish sth (up) to make changes to sth in order to improve it :
The statement was carefully polished and checked before release.
The hotel has polished up its act (= improved its service) since last year.
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- polish sb off
- polish sth off
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French poliss- , lengthened stem of polir to polish, from Latin polire .