Meaning of the word gloss in English

What does gloss mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

gloss

US /ɡlɑːs/
UK /ɡlɒs/

Noun

1.

a shiny surface or appearance

Example:
The car had a high-gloss finish.
Her lips had a natural gloss.
2.

a brief explanatory note or comment, especially one inserted in the margin of a text or manuscript

Example:
The old manuscript contained many marginal glosses.
He added a gloss to clarify the difficult passage.

Verb

1.

to apply a shiny surface to something

Example:
She decided to gloss the old wooden table.
The painter will gloss the doors with a clear varnish.
2.

to provide an explanation or interpretation for (a word or phrase)

Example:
The teacher had to gloss over the difficult vocabulary for the students.
He tried to gloss over his mistakes during the presentation.