gloss

I UK [ɡlɒs] / US [ɡlɔs] noun
Word forms "gloss":
singular gloss plural glosses

1)

a) [singular/uncountable] the shiny surface of something such as paper, paint, or a photograph

a paint that gives a high (= very shiny) gloss

b) the shiny and attractive appearance of something, especially someone's hair

2)

a) [uncountable] a substance you put on something to make it shine

lip gloss

b) gloss paint

3) [countable] a short explanation of what something means

Some of the very technical words will need a gloss.

a) a way of describing something that makes it seem better than it really is

put a gloss on something:

Both sides attempted to put the best possible gloss on the agreement.

b) the way in which someone understands or explains something

The newspapers all gave their own gloss on the president's offer.

•

- take the gloss off something

II UK [ɡlɒs] / US [ɡlɔs] verb [transitive]
Word forms "gloss":
present tense I/you/we/they gloss he/she/it glosses present participle glossing past tense glossed past participle glossed

1) to give an explanation of a word or a piece of writing

2) to put a substance on something to make it look shiny

heavily glossed lips

Phrasal verbs:

- gloss over