gloss
Use Gloss in a sentence
noun
1.
a superficial luster or shine; glaze: the gloss of satin.
2.
a false or deceptively good appearance.
3.
Also, glosser. a cosmetic that adds sheen or luster, especially one for the lips.
verb (used with object)
4.
to put a gloss upon.
5.
to give a false or deceptively good appearance to: to gloss over flaws in the woodwork.
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Gloss
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is absquatulate. Does it mean:
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
| to flee; abscond: |
Origin:
1530–40; probably akin to Dutch gloos glowing, Middle High German glosen to glow, shine, Swedish dialect glysa to shine
1530–40; probably akin to Dutch gloos glowing, Middle High German glosen to glow, shine, Swedish dialect glysa to shine
Related forms
gloss·less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
an explanation or translation, by means of a marginal or interlinear note, of a technical or unusual expression in a manuscript text.
2.
a series of verbal interpretations of a text.
3.
a glossary.
4.
an artfully misleading interpretation.
verb (used with object)
5.
to insert glosses on; annotate.
6.
to place (a word) in a gloss.
7.
to give a specious interpretation of; explain away (often followed by over or away ): to gloss over a serious problem with a pat solution.
verb (used without object)
8.
to make glosses.
Origin:
1250–1300; (noun) Middle English glose (< Old French glose) < Medieval Latin glōsa, glōza < Greek glôssa word requiring explanation, literally, language, tongue; (v.) Middle English glosen < Medieval Latin glōssāre, derivative of glōsa; cf. gloze, reflecting OF pronunciation of verb
1250–1300; (noun) Middle English glose (< Old French glose) < Medieval Latin glōsa, glōza < Greek glôssa word requiring explanation, literally, language, tongue; (v.) Middle English glosen < Medieval Latin glōssāre, derivative of glōsa; cf. gloze, reflecting OF pronunciation of verb
Related forms
gloss·ing·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. comment, annotation. 2. commentary, critique, exegesis, explication. 5. explain, interpret, analyze, explicate.
1. comment, annotation. 2. commentary, critique, exegesis, explication. 5. explain, interpret, analyze, explicate.
gloss-
variant of glosso- before a vowel: glossectomy.
gloss.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To gloss
Collins
World English Dictionary
gloss1 (ɡlɒs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a. lustre or sheen, as of a smooth surface |
| b. (as modifier): gloss paint | |
| 2. | a superficially attractive appearance |
| 3. | See gloss paint |
| 4. | a cosmetic preparation applied to the skin to give it a faint sheen: lip gloss |
| —vb | |
| 5. | to give a gloss to or obtain a gloss |
| [C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic glossi flame, Middle High German glosen to glow] | |
| 'glosser1 | |
| —n | |
| 'glossless1 | |
| —adj | |
| gloss2 (ɡlɒs) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a short or expanded explanation or interpretation of a word, expression, or foreign phrase in the margin or text of a manuscript, etc |
| 2. | an intentionally misleading explanation or interpretation |
| 3. | short for glossary |
| —vb | |
| 4. | to add glosses to |
| [C16: from Latin glōssa unusual word requiring explanatory note, from Ionic Greek] | |
| 'glosser2 | |
| —n | |
| 'glossingly2 | |
| —adv | |
| gloss. | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| glossary | |
| glosso- or (before a vowel) gloss- | |
| —combining form | |
| indicating a tongue or language: glossolaryngeal | |
| [from Greek glossa tongue] | |
| gloss- or (before a vowel) gloss- | |
| —combining form | |
| [from Greek glossa tongue] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
gloss
"luster," 1538, from Scand. (cf. Icelandic glossi "flame," related to glossa "to flame"), or obsolete Du. gloos "a glowing," from M.H.G. glos.
gloss
"word inserted as an explanation," 1548, gloze, from L. glossa "obsolete or foreign word," from Gk. glossa (Ionic), glotta (Attic) "obscure word, language," lit. "tongue." Extended sense of "explain away" is 1638, from idea of a note inserted in the margin of a text to explain a difficult word.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
| GLOSS Global Sea Level Observing System |
| gloss. glossary |
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Time and place are compressed, and filmic conventions may gloss over details that have consumed your research hours.
Common grackles show a clear, abrupt division between the gloss color of the head and body.
Charges of corruption often figure prominently too, giving an otherwise ugly transfer of power a gloss of legitimacy.
Claiming that democracy supports such a decision only adds a mischievous gloss to an unjustifiable position.
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