gloss1

[glos, glaws] /glɒs, glɔs/
noun
1.
a superficial luster or shine; glaze:
the gloss of satin.
2.
a false or deceptively good appearance.
3.
Also, glosser. a cosmetic that adds sheen or luster, especially one for the lips.
verb (used with object)
4.
to put a gloss upon.
5.
to give a false or deceptively good appearance to:
to gloss over flaws in the woodwork.
Origin
1530-40; probably akin to Dutch gloos glowing, Middle High German glosen to glow, shine, Swedish dialect glysa to shine
Related forms
glossless, adjective
Synonyms
1. See polish. 2. front, pretense.

gloss2

[glos, glaws] /glɒs, glɔs/
noun
1.
an explanation or translation, by means of a marginal or interlinear note, of a technical or unusual expression in a manuscript text.
2.
a series of verbal interpretations of a text.
3.
a glossary.
4.
an artfully misleading interpretation.
verb (used with object)
5.
to insert glosses on; annotate.
6.
to place (a word) in a gloss.
7.
to give a specious interpretation of; explain away (often followed by over or away):
to gloss over a serious problem with a pat solution.
verb (used without object)
8.
to make glosses.
Origin
1250-1300; (noun) Middle English glose (< Old French glose) < Medieval Latin glōsa, glōza < Greek glôssa word requiring explanation, literally, language, tongue; (v.) Middle English glosen < Medieval Latin glōssāre, derivative of glōsa; cf. gloze, reflecting OF pronunciation of verb
Related forms
glossingly, adverb
Synonyms
1. comment, annotation. 2. commentary, critique, exegesis, explication. 5. explain, interpret, analyze, explicate.

gloss-

1.
variant of glosso- before a vowel:
glossectomy.

gloss.

1.
glossary.
Examples from the web for gloss
  • It was not a drop of sweat so much as a kind of semi-gloss.
  • The notebook also comes with a gloss screen, which may annoy some users in a brightly lit room because of the reflections.
  • While people may not consider us charlatans anymore, they probably think there is still too much show and tell and gloss.
  • Children are less inclined to gloss over the unpleasant aspects of life: they're fully engaged.
  • Even then, it must be said, not everyone put such high gloss on the group.
  • Radio long ago lost its shimmering, high-tech gloss.
  • But the piece's unpretentious storytelling style allows us to see and hear things that might otherwise get lost in the gloss.
  • Time and place are compressed, and filmic conventions may gloss over details that have consumed your research hours.
  • One semi-permanent coloring option to keep in mind is getting a clear gloss.
  • But that means you do have to gloss over the fact that you didn't get a little more done.
British Dictionary definitions for gloss

gloss1

/ɡlɒs/
noun
1.
  1. lustre or sheen, as of a smooth surface
  2. (as modifier): gloss paint
2.
a superficially attractive appearance
3.
See gloss paint
4.
a cosmetic preparation applied to the skin to give it a faint sheen: lip gloss
verb
5.
to give a gloss to or obtain a gloss
See also gloss over
Derived Forms
glosser, noun
glossless, adjective
Word Origin
C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic glossi flame, Middle High German glosen to glow

gloss2

/ɡlɒs/
noun
1.
a short or expanded explanation or interpretation of a word, expression, or foreign phrase in the margin or text of a manuscript, etc
2.
an intentionally misleading explanation or interpretation
3.
short for glossary
verb (transitive)
4.
to add glosses to
Derived Forms
glosser, noun
glossingly, adverb
Word Origin
C16: from Latin glōssa unusual word requiring explanatory note, from Ionic Greek

gloss.

abbreviation
1.
glossary
Word Origin and History for gloss
n.

"luster," 1530s, from Scandinavian (cf. Icelandic glossi "flame," related to glossa "to flame"), or obsolete Dutch gloos "a glowing," from Middle High German glos; probably ultimately from the same source as Old English glowan (see glow (v.)).

"word inserted as an explanation," 1540s (earlier gloze, c.1300), from Latin glossa "obsolete or foreign word," one that requires explanation; hence also "explanation, note," from Greek glossa (Ionic), glotta (Attic) "obscure word, language," also "mouthpiece," literally "tongue," from PIE *glogh- "thorn, point, that which is projected" (cf. Old Church Slavonic glogu "thorn"). Figurative use from 1540s. Both glossology (1716) and glottology (1841) have been used in the sense "science of language."

v.

1570s as "insert a word as an explanation," from gloss (n.2). From 1650s as "to add luster," from gloss (n.1). Figurative sense of "smooth over, hide" is from 1729, mostly from gloss (n.1) but showing influence of gloss (n.2) in the extended verbal sense of "explain away" (1630s), from idea of a note inserted in the margin of a text to explain a difficult word. Related: Glossed; glossing.

Related Abbreviations for gloss

GLOSS

Global Sea Level Observing System

gloss.

glossary