GLOSS
What does "GLOSS" mean?
A shiny surface sheen, or a brief explanation of a word or text.
Meanings
- A smooth, lustrous shine on a surface. The new wax gave the table a deep gloss.
- A misleadingly attractive appearance that hides flaws. Beneath the gloss, the plan had serious problems. figurative
- A brief explanation or translation of a difficult word, placed in the margin or between lines. A medieval scribe added a Latin gloss above the hard term. technical
- To add explanatory notes to a text. The editor glossed the archaic phrases for modern readers.
- To treat or pass over something so as to make it seem unimportant ('gloss over'). The report glossed over the missing funds.
Did you know?
- The two meanings of 'gloss' are unrelated twins: the 'shiny surface' sense is Germanic, while the 'note explaining a word' sense comes from Greek 'glossa', meaning tongue or language - the same root behind 'glossary'.
Word origin
Two distinct roots converge: the 'shine' sense is of Germanic origin, while the 'explanatory note' sense comes from Greek 'glossa' meaning 'tongue, language', via Latin 'glossa'.
Remember it
GLOSS hides 'gloss-ary' for the note sense and a glassy 'GLO-shine' for the sheen sense.
A little poem
One gloss adds shine, the other adds a word-
one hides the meaning, one makes it heard.
couplet
Wordplay
- The editor's marginal note had a beautiful sheen - a truly glossy gloss.
What it teaches
The same word polishes surfaces and explains them; beware the gloss that shines instead of clarifies.
Quick facts
What does GLOSS mean?
A shiny surface sheen, or a brief explanation of a word or text.
Is GLOSS a valid word?
Yes — GLOSS is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is GLOSS?
GLOSS has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does GLOSS come from?
Two distinct roots converge: the 'shine' sense is of Germanic origin, while the 'explanatory note' sense comes from Greek 'glossa' meaning 'tongue, language', via Latin 'glossa'.
What can GLOSS teach us?
The same word polishes surfaces and explains them; beware the gloss that shines instead of clarifies.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.