gloss

views updated May 29 2018

gloss1 / gläs; glôs/ • n. shine or luster on a smooth surface: hair with a healthy gloss. ∎ see lipgloss. ∎  (also gloss paint) a type of paint that dries to a bright shiny surface. ∎  [in sing.] a superficially attractive appearance or impression: beneath the gloss of success was a tragic private life.• v. [tr.] apply a cosmetic gloss to. ∎  apply gloss paint to. ∎  (gloss over) try to conceal or disguise (something embarrassing or unfavorable) by treating it briefly or representing it misleadingly: the social costs of this growth are glossed over.DERIVATIVES: gloss·er n.gloss2 • n. a translation or explanation of a word or phrase. ∎  an explanation, interpretation, or paraphrase: the chapter acts as a helpful gloss on Pynchon's general method.• v. [tr.] (usu. be glossed) provide an explanation, interpretation, or paraphrase for (a text, word, etc.). ∎  [intr.] (gloss on/upon) archaic write or make comments, esp. unfavorable ones, about (something): those laws, which they assumed the liberty of interpreting and glossing upon.

gloss

views updated May 29 2018

gloss1 superficial lustre. XVI. of unkn. orig.
Hence as vb. (infl. by GLOSS2) give a specious appearance to, smoothe over. XVII. glossy XVI.

gloss

views updated Jun 27 2018

gloss2 interlinear or marginal explanation; (sophistical) interpretation. XVI. refash. of GLOZE after L. glōssa.

Gloss

views updated May 17 2018

GLOSS

An annotation, explanation, or commentary on a particular passage in a book or document, which is ordinarily placed on the same page or in the margin to elucidate or amplify the passage.