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View synonyms for gloss

gloss

1

[ glos, glaws ]

noun

  1. a superficial luster or shine; glaze:

    the gloss of satin.

  2. a false or deceptively good appearance.

    Synonyms: veneer, front, facade

  3. Also . a cosmetic that adds sheen or luster, especially one for the lips.


verb (used with object)

  1. to put a gloss upon.
  2. to give a false or deceptively good appearance to:

    to gloss over flaws in the woodwork.

gloss

2

[ glos, glaws ]

noun

  1. an explanation or translation of a foreign, technical, or unusual word or expression in a text.

    Synonyms: annotation, comment

  2. a series of verbal interpretations of a text.

    Synonyms: explication, exegesis, critique, commentary

  3. an artfully misleading interpretation.

verb (used with object)

  1. to insert glosses on; annotate.

    Synonyms: explicate, analyze, interpret, explain

  2. to place (a word) in a gloss.
  3. 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)

  1. to make glosses.

gloss.

3

abbreviation for

  1. glossary.

gloss

1

/ ɡlɒs /

noun

    1. lustre or sheen, as of a smooth surface
    2. ( as modifier )

      gloss paint

  1. a superficially attractive appearance
  2. a cosmetic preparation applied to the skin to give it a faint sheen

    lip gloss



verb

  1. to give a gloss to or obtain a gloss

gloss.

2

abbreviation for

  1. glossary

gloss

3

/ ɡlɒs /

noun

  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

verb

  1. to add glosses to

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Derived Forms

  • ˈglosser, noun
  • ˈglossless, adjective
  • ˈglossingly, adverb
  • ˈglosser, noun

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Other Words From

  • glossless adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of gloss1

First recorded in 1530–40; probably akin to Dutch gloos “glowing,” Middle High German glosen “to glow, shine,” Swedish dialect glysa “to shine”

Origin of gloss2

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun glose, gloce, from Old French glose, from Medieval Latin glōsa, glōza, from Greek glôssa “word requiring explanation,” literally, “language, tongue”; gloze,

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Word History and Origins

Origin of gloss1

C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic glossi flame, Middle High German glosen to glow

Origin of gloss2

C16: from Latin glōssa unusual word requiring explanatory note, from Ionic Greek

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Synonym Study

See polish.

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Example Sentences

Orange zest brightens the braised cubed meat and ribbons of handmade pasta, rich with a reduction made from the braising liquid of the veal, orange juice and butter, which explains the gloss.

By night, she trades her nice-girl duds for glitter and gloss and skimpy going-out clothes.

From Time

So I’m going through my purse, looking for my lip gloss, and a hand comes in the car and scares the hell out of me.

From Ozy

I’ll then add epoxy to the eyes and teeth to give it a nice gloss.

From Ozy

It holds an ideal 10 oz of hot or cold liquid, and its glazed blue gloss is elegant and unisex.

Zied suggests popping a breath strip, sucking on a strong mint, or reapplying your lip gloss.

He also said health care providers should not gloss over possible or suspect cases.

The putting-on-lip gloss shot almost never makes sense, but it always, always, works.

All three outlets remained fixated on surgery, and seemed to only gloss over questions of identity.

In March, popular beauty site Into the Gloss even published a how-to on getting blue-tinted hair.

It is more likely that counseyl has slipped in, as a gloss upon reed, and was afterwards substituted for it.

And in this way he hopes to pass off a plausible gloss, as satisfying the words of the instrument.

Hence they are very probably an old gloss, and their omission simplifies both the grammar and the sense.

Around her was the gloss of recent green, pushing upwards to the immature blue of the sky.

It is against human nature, and no amount of wonderful declamation or scenic magnificence can gloss it over.

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