Meaning

To make (something, such as a surface) bright, shiny, and smooth by, or (by extension) as if by, rubbing; to polish, to shine..

Definitions by Sense

1. To make (something, such as a surface) bright, shiny, and smooth by, or (by extension) as if by, rubbing; to polish, to shine.
2. Of a stag: to remove the velvet (“skin and fine fur”) from (its antlers) by rubbing them against something; to velvet.
3. To make (someone or something) appear positive and highly respected.
4. To become bright, glossy, and smooth; to brighten, to gleam, to shine forth.
5. A shine of something which has been polished; a lustre, a polish.
6. A shiny layer applied to a surface or other thing.
7. (uncountable) The making of something bright, shiny, and smooth by, or (by extension) as if by, rubbing; (countable) an instance of this; a burnishing, a polishing, a shining.
8. Of a person's body: to grow large or stout; to fatten, to fill out.

Example Sentences

In pottery, a stone is sometimes used to burnish a pot before firing, giving it a smooth, shiny look.

Lyke as the larke, vpon the somers day, / Whan Titan radiant burnisshith his bemis bryght, […]

So forth he came all in a cote of plate, / Burniſht vvith bloudie ruſt; […]

Fire Renovates and Burniſheth the Mine, / The Spirit of VVisdom, makes the Face to ſhine: / Fire elevates, inclines things to Aſcend, / The Spirit of Faith too makes Souls upvvard tend: […]

Thus was this place, / A happy rural ſeat of various view; / Groves whoſe rich Trees wept Odorous Gummes and Balme, / Others whoſe fruit burniſht with Golden Rinde / Hung amiable, Heſperian Fables true, / If true, here onely, and of delicious taſte: […]

Novv the village vvindovvs blaze, / Burniſh'd by the ſetting ſun.

Thou [the sun] smilest on the sunflower craning after thee, / And burnishest my brother of the vane, […]

The locomotive had been magnificently burnished at Norwich depot, with polished brasswork and red-painted coupling rods—all the more creditable, Dr. Allen adds, as it spent many months last winter in open store.

Word Forms

• burnishes
• burnishing
• burnished
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• burnish
• burnisht
• burnishest
• burnishedst
• burnisheth
• -

Synonyms for burnish

Related Words

When Should You Use Burnish?

Use burnish when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions