n. & v.
—n.
1 a surface shine or lustre. b an instance of this; a smooth finish.
2 a deceptively attractive appearance. b an instance of this.
3 (in full gloss paint) paint formulated to give a hard glossy finish (cf. MATT).
—v.tr. make glossy.
Phrases and idioms:
gloss over
1 seek to conceal beneath a false appearance.
2 conceal or evade by mentioning briefly or misleadingly.
Derivatives:
glosser n.
Etymology: 16th c.: orig. unkn.
2.
n. & v.
—n.
1 a an explanatory word or phrase inserted between the lines or in the margin of a text. b a comment, explanation, interpretation, or paraphrase.
2 a misrepresentation of another's words.
3 a a glossary. b an interlinear translation or annotation.
—v.
1 tr. a add a gloss or glosses to (a text, word, etc.). b read a different sense into; explain away.
2 intr. (often foll. by on) make (esp. unfavourable) comments.
3 intr. write or introduce glosses.
Derivatives:
glosser n.
Etymology: alt. of GLOZE after med.L glossa
Useful english dictionary. 2012.