Pronunciation: /ɡlɔs/

Definitions of gloss

noun a brief explanation or translation of a difficult or technical expression

Example Sentences

A1 I need a gloss to make my lips shiny.

A2 The teacher explained the glossary at the beginning of the textbook.

B1 She applied a coat of gloss to protect the wood furniture.

B2 The gloss on the magazine cover made the photos look vibrant.

C1 The gloss of the paint gave the car a sleek finish.

C2 Her knowledge of art history allowed her to provide a detailed gloss on the painting.

verb to provide a gloss for a word or text

Example Sentences

A1 I like to gloss my lips with shiny lip balm.

A2 She glossed over the details of the project during the presentation.

B1 The teacher asked the students to gloss the difficult words in the text.

B2 The artist used a special technique to gloss the painting for a smooth finish.

C1 The editor meticulously glossed the manuscript to ensure clarity and coherence.

C2 The diplomat was skilled at glossing over sensitive political issues during negotiations.

Examples of gloss in a Sentence

formal The gloss on the magazine cover made the colors pop.

informal I love how the gloss on this lipstick gives it a shiny finish.

slang Check out the gloss on that car - it's so shiny!

figurative She tried to gloss over the mistake, but everyone noticed.

Grammatical Forms of gloss

past tense

glossed

plural

glosses

comparative

glossier

superlative

glossiest

present tense

gloss

future tense

will gloss

perfect tense

have glossed

continuous tense

is glossing

singular

gloss

positive degree

gloss

infinitive

to gloss

gerund

glossing

participle

glossed

Origin and Evolution of gloss

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin and Greek
Story behind the word: The word 'gloss' originated from the Latin word 'glossa', which was derived from the Greek word 'glossa' meaning 'tongue' or 'language'. In ancient times, glosses were annotations or explanations added to texts to clarify or interpret difficult words or passages.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'gloss' expanded to include any explanatory note or commentary added to a text. In modern usage, 'gloss' can also refer to a shiny or reflective coating, as in 'lip gloss' or 'glossy paper'.