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burnishto polish and make smooth and shiny by rubbing

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to polish and make smooth and shiny by rubbing

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbɜːrnɪʃ/

Korean meaning: 문질러서 광택을 내다, 윤을 내다

Korean pronunciation: **버**니시

Example Sentences

  • The knight spent hours burnishing his armor before the tournament, making it so shiny that birds kept flying into it.
  • She tried to burnish her cooking reputation, but burning water twice in a row didn't help.
  • The CEO hired a PR firm to burnish the company's tarnished image after the scandal.

burnish

VERB

//ˈbɜːrnɪʃ//

to polish and make smooth and shiny by rubbing

burnish concept
💡 Concept

a skilled craftsman vigorously rubs a cloth back and forth across a dull copper vase. His hands move in steady circular motions as he applies pressure to the surface. The metal gradually transforms from a tarnished brown color to a brilliant golden shine. Each stroke of the cloth reveals more of the mirror-like reflection underneath. A young apprentice watches nearby, holding similar tarnished pieces waiting to be polished. Other finished pieces gleam brightly on the workbench behind them. metal being polished and made smooth and shiny by rubbing

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈbɜːrnɪʃ/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈbɜːnɪʃ/

🌳Etymology

Rootburn-
Suffix--ish

Origin

From 14th century Old French 'burnir' meaning 'to make brown.' The word originally described how rubbing metal creates heat and friction that changes its color while making it shiny.

🎵Rhyme

varnishtarnishgarnish
varnish
tarnish
garnish

🔗Collocations

burnish one's reputation
burnish metal
burnish one's image
burnish armor
burnish credentials

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The knight spent hours burnishing his armor before the tournament, making it so shiny that birds kept flying into it.

😄 Fun example

She tried to burnish her cooking reputation, but burning water twice in a row didn't help.

The CEO hired a PR firm to burnish the company's tarnished image after the scandal.

The museum curator carefully burnished the ancient bronze artifacts.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

polishshinebuffrefineenhance

Antonyms

tarnishdulldamage

Related

varnishglosslusterpatinarefinish

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