gloss Meaning & Definition
What Does Gloss Mean?
As a noun, gloss means A surface shine or luster. It is also used to mean A superficially or deceptively attractive appearance. As a verb, it means To give a gloss or sheen to. As a verb, it means To add a gloss to (a text).
Gloss in Brief
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ɡlɒs/ |
| Synonyms | rubric, burnish and polish |
| Plural | glosses |
| Verb forms | glosses, glossing, glossed |
Gloss Definition (Noun)
- A surface shine or luster.
- A superficially or deceptively attractive appearance.
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Gloss as a Verb
- To give a gloss or sheen to.
- To make (something) attractive by deception
- To become shiny.
- Used in a phrasal verb: gloss over (“to cover up a mistake or crime, to treat something with less care than it deserves”).
Noun
- A brief explanatory note or translation of a foreign, archaic, technical, difficult, complex, or uncommon expression, inserted after the original, in the margin of a document, or between lines of a text.
- Synonym of glossary, a collection of such notes.
- An expression requiring such explanatory treatment.
- An extensive commentary on some text.
- An interpretation by a court of a specific point within a statute or case law.
- A definition or explanation of a word sense.
Verb
- To add a gloss to (a text).
Noun
- A surface shine or luster/lustre
Noun
- A glossary; a collection of such notes.
- A brief explanation in speech or in a written work, including a synonym used with the intent of indicating the meaning of the word to which it is applied
- An interpretation by a court of specific point within a statute or case law
Synonyms of Gloss
Gloss in a Sentence
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Word Forms & Grammar
gloss (usually uncountable, plural glosses)
gloss (third-person singular simple present glosses, present participle glossing, simple past and past participle glossed)
gloss (plural glosses)
Words That Rhyme With Gloss
Origin of Gloss
Origin 1: Probably from a North Germanic language, compare Icelandic glossi (“spark, flame”), glossa (“to flame”); or perhaps from dialectal Dutch gloos (“a glow, flare”), related to West Frisian gloeze (“a glow”), Middle Low German glȫsen (“to smoulder, glow”), German glosen (“to smoulder”); ultimately from Proto-Germanic *glus- (“to glow, shine”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰel- (“to flourish; be green or yellow”). More at glow.
Origin 2: From Middle English glosse, alteration of glose, from Old French glose, from Late Latin glōssa (“obsolete or foreign word requiring explanation”), from Ancient Greek γλῶσσα (glôssa, “language”). Doublet of glossa and gloze.
Origin 3: An alteration of Middle English glosen after Etymology 2, from Old French gloser; compare Medieval Latin glossāre.
Quick Answers About Gloss
Is gloss a noun or a verb?
Gloss is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for gloss?
Close synonyms of gloss are rubric, burnish and polish. See the full list of gloss synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of gloss?
The plural of gloss is glosses.
What is the past tense of gloss?
The past tense of gloss is glossed. The present participle is glossing.