noun
Uncommon
gloss
glos
Gloss (noun) means a shiny, polished surface. Example: “The lip gloss gave her lips a subtle shine.”
noun
1
A shiny, polished surface.
"The lip gloss gave her lips a subtle shine."
2
An impressive appearance that hides something less impressive underneath.
"Beneath the glossy marketing gloss, the product barely worked."
3
A brief note explaining a difficult or foreign word, often placed in the margin or between the lines of a text.
"The scholar added glosses in the margin to explain the archaic Latin terms."
verb
1
(usually "gloss over") To skim past or downplay a problem instead of properly addressing it.
"The report glossed over the project's biggest failures."
How to use gloss
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shiny surface or attractive-but-shallow appearance, or (in books) a short note explaining a tricky word.
Common mistake
"Gloss over" means to skip past something quickly to avoid dealing with it — not to make something shiny.
Common pairings
glossy finish
gloss over
add a gloss
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Word forms
- Plural
- glosses
- Third person singular
- glosses
- Past tense
- glossed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The lip _____ gave her lips a subtle shine.
Etymology
Possibly from a Scandinavian word for a spark or flame, related to a Germanic root meaning "to glow" — the shiny sense and the "explanatory note" sense may actually come from two different, unrelated old words that merged in English.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for gloss
See all rhymes for gloss →Frequently asked questions
What does “gloss” mean?
The word “gloss” means a shiny, polished surface. In plain terms, a shiny surface or attractive-but-shallow appearance, or (in books) a short note explaining a tricky word.
How do you pronounce “gloss”?
“Gloss” is pronounced glos (/ɡlɔs/ in IPA).
How do you use “gloss” in a sentence?
Here is “gloss” used in a sentence: “The lip gloss gave her lips a subtle shine.”
What part of speech is “gloss”?
Depending on how it is used, “gloss” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “gloss” come from?
The word “gloss” comes from Germanic.
Is “gloss” a common word?
“Gloss” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “gloss” have?
“Gloss” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a shiny, polished surface.
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