'Burnish' definitions:

Definition of 'burnish'

(from WordNet)
noun
The property of being smooth and shiny [syn: polish, gloss, glossiness, burnish]
verb
Polish and make shiny; "buff the wooden floors"; "buff my shoes" [syn: buff, burnish, furbish]

Definition of 'Burnish'

From: GCIDE
  • Burnish \Bur"nish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burnished; p. pr. & vb. n. Burnishing.] [OE. burnischen, burnissen, burnen, OF. burnir, brunir, to make brown, polish, F. brunir, fr. F. brun brown, fr. OHG. br?n; cf. MHG. briunen to make brown, polish. See Brown, a.] To cause to shine; to make smooth and bright; to polish; specifically, to polish by rubbing with something hard and smooth; as, to burnish brass or paper. [1913 Webster]
  • The frame of burnished steel, that east a glare From far, and seemed to thaw the freezing air. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • Now the village windows blaze, Burnished by the setting sun. --Cunningham. [1913 Webster]
  • Burnishing machine, a machine for smoothing and polishing by compression, as in making paper collars. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Burnish'

From: GCIDE
  • Burnish \Bur"nish\, v. i. To shine forth; to brighten; to become smooth and glossy, as from swelling or filling out; hence, to grow large. [1913 Webster]
  • A slender poet must have time to grow, And spread and burnish as his brothers do. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • My thoughts began to burnish, sprout, and swell. --Herbert. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Burnish'

From: GCIDE
  • Burnish \Bur"nish\, n. The effect of burnishing; gloss; brightness; luster. --Crashaw. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Burnish'