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gloss¹

(glôs, glŏs)

1. A surface shininess or luster.

2. A kind of paint that dries to a shiny finish.

3. A cosmetic that adds shine or luster, such as lip gloss.

4. A superficially or deceptively attractive appearance or good reputation: The firm lost some of its gloss when its investments performed poorly.

tr.v. glossed, gloss·ing, gloss·es

1. To give a bright sheen or luster to.

2. To apply a gloss to: glossed her lips.

Phrasal Verb:

gloss over

To make attractive or acceptable by deception or superficial treatment: a résumé that glossed over the applicant's lack of experience.

[Perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Icelandic glossi, a spark; see ghel-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

gloss²

(glôs, glŏs)

a. A brief explanatory note or translation of a difficult or technical expression usually inserted in the margin or between lines of a text or manuscript.

b. A collection of such notes; a glossary.

2. An extensive commentary, often accompanying a text or publication.

3. A purposefully misleading interpretation or explanation.

tr.v. glossed, gloss·ing, gloss·es

1. To provide (an expression or a text) with a gloss or glosses.

2. To give a false interpretation to.

[Middle English glose, from Old French, from Medieval Latin glōsa, from Latin glōssa, foreign word requiring explanation, from Greek, tongue, language.]

glosser n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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