gloss 1
(glôs, glŏs)n.1. A surface shininess or luster.
2. A kind of paint that dries to a shiny finish.
3. A cosmetic that adds shine or luster, such as lip gloss.
4. A superficially or deceptively attractive appearance or good reputation: The firm lost some of its gloss when its investments performed poorly.
tr.v. glossed,
gloss·ing,
gloss·es 1. To give a bright sheen or luster to.
2. To apply a gloss to: glossed her lips.
Phrasal Verb: gloss over To make attractive or acceptable by deception or superficial treatment: a résumé that glossed over the applicant's lack of experience.
gloss 2
(glôs, glŏs)n.1. a. A brief explanatory note or translation of a difficult or technical expression usually inserted in the margin or between lines of a text or manuscript.
b. A collection of such notes; a glossary.
2. An extensive commentary, often accompanying a text or publication.
3. A purposefully misleading interpretation or explanation.
tr.v. glossed,
gloss·ing,
gloss·es 1. To provide (an expression or a text) with a gloss or glosses.
2. To give a false interpretation to.
[Middle English glose, from Old French, from Medieval Latin glōsa, from Latin glōssa, foreign word requiring explanation, from Greek, tongue, language.]
gloss′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.