gloss

noun (1)

\ ˈgläs

, ˈglȯs\

Definition of gloss

(Entry 1 of 5)

1 : a surface luster or brightness : shine

2a : a deceptively attractive appearance selfishness that had a gloss of humanitarianism about it

b : bright often superficial attractiveness show-biz gloss

3 : a transparent cosmetic preparation for adding shine and usually color to the lips

gloss

verb (1)

glossed; glossing; glosses

Definition of gloss (Entry 2 of 5)

transitive verb

1a : to mask the true nature of : give a deceptively attractive appearance to —used with over the misery was general, where not glossed over by liberal application of alcohol— Marston Bates

b : to deal with (a subject or problem) too lightly or not at all —used with over glosses over scholarly controversies rather than confronting them head-on— John Israel

2 : to give a gloss to

gloss

noun (2)

Definition of gloss (Entry 3 of 5)

1a : a brief explanation (as in the margin or between the lines of a text) of a difficult or obscure word or expression

b : a false and often willfully misleading interpretation (as of a text)

2a : glossary

b : an interlinear translation

c : a continuous commentary accompanying a text

3 : commentary, interpretation

gloss

verb (2)

glossed; glossing; glosses

Definition of gloss (Entry 4 of 5)

transitive verb

1a : to provide a gloss for : explain, define

b : interpret

2 : to dispose of by false or perverse interpretation trying to gloss away the irrationalities of the universe— Irwin Edman

gloss-

combining form

variants: or glosso-

Definition of gloss- (Entry 5 of 5)

1 : tongue glossitis

2 : language glossolalia

First Known Use of gloss

Noun (1)

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for gloss

Noun (1)

akin to Middle High German glosen to glow, shine; akin to Old English geolu yellow

Noun (2)

alteration of gloze, from Middle English glose, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin glosa, glossa, from Greek glōssa, glōtta tongue, language, obscure word; akin to Greek glōchis projecting point

Combining form

Latin, from Greek glōss-, glōsso-, from glōssa

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More Definitions for gloss

gloss

noun

\ ˈgläs

, ˈglȯs\

Kids Definition of gloss

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : brightness from a smooth surface : sheen

2 : a falsely attractive surface appearance

gloss

verb

glossed; glossing

Kids Definition of gloss (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to shine the surface of

2 : to explain as if unimportant He glossed over a mistake.

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gloss

Definition of gloss

First Known Use of gloss

History and Etymology for gloss

Kids Definition of gloss

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