Burnished

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Burnish \Bur"nish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Burnished}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Burnishing}.] [OE. burnischen, burnissen, burnen, OF.
     burnir, brunir, to make brown, polish, F. brunir, fr. F. brun
     brown, fr. OHG. br?n; cf. MHG. briunen to make brown, polish.
     See {Brown}, a.]
     To cause to shine; to make smooth and bright; to polish;


     specifically, to polish by rubbing with something hard and
     smooth; as, to burnish brass or paper.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The frame of burnished steel, that east a glare
           From far, and seemed to thaw the freezing air.
                                                    --Dryden.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Now the village windows blaze,
           Burnished by the setting sun.            --Cunningham.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Burnishing machine}, a machine for smoothing and polishing
        by compression, as in making paper collars.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  burnished
       adj : made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a
             sheen or glow; "bright silver candlesticks"; "a
             burnished brass knocker"; "she brushed her hair until
             it fell in lustrous auburn waves"; "rows of shining
             glasses"; "shiny black patents" [syn: {bright}, {lustrous},
              {shining}, {shiny}]