Definition: polish

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

Polish
     adj : of or relating to Poland or its people or culture; "Polish
           sausage" [syn: Polish]
     n 1: the property of being smooth and shiny [syn: gloss, glossiness,
           burnish]
     2: a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or
        impeccable quality; "they performed with great polish"; "I
        admired the exquisite refinement of his prose"; "almost an
        inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is
        almost art"--Joseph Conrad [syn: refinement, culture,
        cultivation, finish]
     3: a preparation used in polishing
     4: the Slavic language of Poland [syn: Polish]
     v 1: (of surfaces) make shine; "shine the silver, please";
          "polish my shoes" [syn: smooth, smoothen, shine]
     2: improve or perfect by pruning or polishing; "refine one's
        style of writing" [syn: refine, fine-tune, down]
     3: make shiny [syn: gloss]
     4: bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state;
        "polish your social manners" [syn: round, round off, polish
        up, brush up]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Polish \Pol"ish\, a. [From Pole a Polander.]
   Of or pertaining to Poland or its inhabitants. -- n. The
   language of the Poles.
Polish \Pol"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Polished; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Polishing.] [F. polir, L. polire. Cf. Polite, -ish]
   1. To make smooth and glossy, usually by friction; to
      burnish; to overspread with luster; as, to polish glass,
      marble, metals, etc.

   2. Hence, to refine; to wear off the rudeness, coarseness, or
      rusticity of; to make elegant and polite; as, to polish
      life or manners. --Milton.

   To polish off, to finish completely, as an adversary.
      [Slang] --W. H. Russell.
Polish \Pol"ish\, v. i.
   To become smooth, as from friction; to receive a gloss; to
   take a smooth and glossy surface; as, steel polishes well.
   --Bacon.
Polish \Pol"ish\, n.
   1. A smooth, glossy surface, usually produced by friction; a
      gloss or luster.

            Another prism of clearer glass and better polish.
                                                  --Sir I.
                                                  Newton.

   2. Anything used to produce a gloss.

   3. Fig.: Refinement; elegance of manners.

            This Roman polish and this smooth behavior.
                                                  --Addison.