I. ˈbərnish, ˈbə̄n-, ˈbəin-, -nēsh, esp in pres part -nəsh verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English burnischen, from Middle French bruniss-, stem of brunir to make brown, burnish, from Old French, from brun brown, shining, from Medieval Latin brunus, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German brūn brown, shining — more at brown
transitive verb
1. : to make shiny or lustrous : polish ; specifically : to polish by friction with something hard and smooth
burnish metal
burnished leather
2. of a deer : to rub (as the head) so as to remove the dead velvet and polish the antlers
3. : to rub with a burnisher: as
a. : to fix with a burnisher
burnish a glass into a metal rim
b. : to make an area of (a halftone printing plate) darker by rubbing down the dots and thus enlarging them
intransitive verb
: to take a polish : become lustrous under burnishing
II. noun
( -es )
: a polished surface : superficial luster ; also : polish 4