1. To make smooth and shiny by rubbing or chemical action. 2. To remove the outer layers from (grains of rice) by rotation in drums. 3. To free from coarseness; refine: polish one's manners.4. To remove flaws from; perfect or complete: polish one's piano technique; polish up the lyrics.
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To become smooth or shiny by or as if by being rubbed. 2. To become perfect or refined.
NOUN:
1. Smoothness or shininess of surface or finish. 2. A substance containing chemical agents or abrasive particles and applied to smooth or shine a surface: shoe polish.3. The act or process of polishing. 4. Elegance of style or manners; refinement.
PHRASAL VERB:
polish offInformal To finish or dispose of quickly and easily.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English polisshen, from Old French polir, poliss-, from Latin polre. See pel-5 in Appendix I.
p
l
sh
re. See pel-5 in Appendix I.
