gloss

gloss¹ [glɔs US glo:s, gla:s] n

[Sense: 1-2, 5-6; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language.]

[Sense: 3-4; Date: 1500-1600; : Old French; Origin: glose, from Latin glossa 'unusual word that needs explaining', from Greek, 'tongue, language, unusual word']

1.) [singular,U]

a bright shine on a surface

▪ This gel will add gloss to even the dullest hair.

polish/shine to a high gloss

▪ The silverware had been polished to a high gloss.

2.) [singular,U]

an attractive appearance on the surface of something that may hide something less pleasant

▪ Beneath the gloss of success was a tragic private life.

▪ The injury to Keane took the gloss off Manchester United's victory.

3.)

a note in a piece of writing that explains a difficult word, phrase, or idea

4.) [singular]

a description or explanation that makes something seem more attractive or acceptable than it really is

▪ The minister was accused of putting a gloss on the government's poor performance.

5.) gloss finish/print

a surface or photograph that has been made shiny

6.) also gloss paint [U]

paint that looks shiny after it dries

→↑matt

gloss ²

gloss² v

[T]

to provide a note in a piece of writing, explaining a difficult word, phrase, or idea

gloss over [gloss over sth] phr v

to avoid talking about something unpleasant, or to say as little as possible about it

▪ She glossed over the details of her divorce.