Lexic.us

Definition of Burnish

1. Verb. Polish and make shiny. "They burnish the glass tubes"; "Buff my shoes"

Definition of Burnish

1. v. t. 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.

2. v. i. To shine forth; to brighten; to become smooth and glossy, as from swelling or filling out; hence, to grow large.

3. n. The effect of burnishing; gloss; brightness; luster.

Definition of Burnish

1. Verb. (transitive) To make smooth or shiny by rubbing; to polish; to shine. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Burnish

1. to polish [v -ED, -ING, -ES] - See also: polish

Lexicographical Neighbors of Burnish

Literary usage of Burnish

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Iliad of Homer by Homer, John Graham Cordery (1871)
"Within the burnish'd brass, they wash'd the corse Therewith, anointed it with olive oil, And closed its wounds with balm nine years in store ; Then laid it ..."

2. A Dictionary of English Etymology by Hensleigh Wedgwood (1872)
"The interchange of d and / is clearly seen in the burnish Gael, turd, burl, ... burnish. Fr. brunir, to polish. Sw. bryna, to sharpen, to give an edge to, ..."

3. The Lusiad: Or, The Discovery of India: an Epic Poem by Luís de Camões, William Julius Mickle (1809)
"... Nor Ceylon's isle, brave Soarez, shall with-hold Its incense, precious as the burnish'd gold, ..."

4. Transactions of the Southern Dental Association by Southern Dental Association (1895)
"The grinding should be always toward the tooth, as it will burnish the band ... The paper says, invariably bevel to a knife edge, and burnish to that edge, ..."

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