Polishing: meaning, definitions and examples

Use to make a surface smooth and shiny, often by rubbing. Suitable for general purposes such as car surfaces or furniture.

• He spent the afternoon polishing his car.
• She was polishing the wooden table until it gleamed.

A more intensive process involving rubbing a surface with a buffer or a machine. Often used for floors, shoes, or nails.

• The janitor was buffing the hallway floor.
• She buffed her nails to give them a smooth finish.

Used for making something bright, clean, and reflective. Often refers to light or the appearance of cleanliness.

• The sun was shining brightly in the sky.
• She's shining the silverware for the dinner party.

A technique used to make a material smooth and shiny by rubbing, often associated with leatherworking or pottery.

• The craftsman was burnishing the leather belt.
• He burnished the clay pot before it went into the kiln.

Used when making a surface smooth and glossy, often referring to a process that involves rubbing or chemical treatment.

• She spent the afternoon polishing her silverware for the dinner party
• The car needs polishing to remove the scratches

Generally used to describe making a surface reflect light well; often suggests the end result rather than the process.

• She applied a new coat of wax to make the floor shine
• The stars shine brightly in the clear night sky

Commonly used in a more casual context, often relating to the use of a soft cloth or a hand tool to smooth or shine a surface.

• He buffs his shoes every morning before work
• She used a soft cloth to buff the wooden table until it shone

Typically used in a more formal or specialized context, often in relation to metals and sometimes indicating a higher level of finish or shine attained through vigorous polishing.

• The jeweler burnished the gold ring until it gleamed
• The craftsman burnished the bronze statue meticulously