— polisher , n.
/pol"ish/ , v.t.
1. to make smooth and glossy, esp. by rubbing or friction: to polish a brass doorknob.
2. to render finished, refined, or elegant: His speech needs polishing.
v.i.
3. to become smooth and glossy through polishing: a flooring that polishes easily.
4. Archaic. to become refined or elegant.
5. polish off , Informal.
a. to finish or dispose of quickly: They polished off a gallon of ice cream between them.
b. to subdue or get rid of someone: The fighter polished off his opponent in the first round.
6. polish up , to improve; refine: She took lessons to polish up her speech.
n.
7. a substance used to give smoothness or gloss: shoe polish.
8. the act of polishing.
9. state of being polished.
10. smoothness and gloss of surface.
11. superiority of manner or execution; refinement; elegance: the polish of a professional singer.
[ 1250-1300; ME polishen poliss-, long s. of polir polire to polish; see -ISH 2 ]
Syn. 1. shine, brighten, burnish, buff, smooth. 10. 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.