burnish

Meanings

• Verb

  To make a surface shine by rubbing it with a soft substance.

  - "After polishing the antique vase, she burnished it with a soft cloth."
  - "The gold coin was burnished to bring out its brilliance."

• Verb

  To give a smooth, bright, and polished appearance to a surface.

  - "The artist burnished the metal surface to create a mirror-like finish."
  - "The leather shoes were burnished to make them look new."

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Synonyms

buff , furbish , polish , shine , wax

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with burnish
charm , harm , warm

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Variants

List of all variants of burnish that leads to same result
burnish , burnished , burnisher , burnishers , burnishes , burnishing

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French bruniss-, present participle of brunir 'to brown, burn'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. Burnishing was an important process in ancient Egypt, where gold and silver objects were often burnished to give them a bright, reflective surface.

2. In heraldry, burnishing is used to describe the process of making a metal surface shine by applying a substance such as wax or oil.

3. Burnishing is also used in the production of coins to give them a smooth, shiny surface.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Polishing: Burnishing is a type of polishing that involves rubbing a surface with a soft substance to bring out its shine.

2. Shining: Burnishing makes a surface shine by removing imperfections and reflecting light.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'burnish' is often used to describe the process of making something look better or more attractive. For example, in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel 'The Great Gatsby', the narrator describes Gatsby's mansion as having 'a certain sad gleam. Coming into the house was like stepping into the middle of a sentimental picture.', but later adds that 'the rooms were gleaming and beautiful, and the furniture was burnished and bright'. This contrast between the initial impression and the later reality reflects the character of Gatsby himself.

How to Memorize "burnish"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize rubbing a soft cloth over a shiny surface, such as a silver vase or a gold coin, to bring out its brilliance.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'burnish' with the idea of making something look better or more attractive.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Use the mnemonic 'Burning Ish' to remember the meaning of 'burnish'. 'Burning' reminds you of the process of heating or rubbing the surface, and 'Ish' stands for 'ish' or 'making it look good'.

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