From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpolishpol‧ish1 /ˈpɒlɪʃ $ ˈpɑː-/ ●●● S3 verb [transitive] 1 
CLEANto make something smooth, bright, and shiny by rubbing it I spent all afternoon polishing the silver.polish something with something Polish the lenses with a piece of tissue.2 to improve a piece of writing, a speech etc by making slight changes to it before it is completely finished Your essay is good, you just need to polish it a bit. —polishing noun [uncountable] → polish somebody/something ↔ off → polish something ↔ up→ See Verb table
CLEANto make something smooth, bright, and shiny by rubbing it I spent all afternoon polishing the silver.polish something with something Polish the lenses with a piece of tissue.2 to improve a piece of writing, a speech etc by making slight changes to it before it is completely finished Your essay is good, you just need to polish it a bit. —polishing noun [uncountable] → polish somebody/something ↔ off → polish something ↔ up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
polish• There was no pearl inside, though, nothing nearly so hard and polished.• Tiny, polished black pollen beetles crawled over her hand: she had become part of their landscape.• That it proves an undistinguished production can be polished in the right hands is illuminating.• Edward's essay is good, but he needs to polish it a little bit.• Bill was leaning on his cab, spitting at the wing mirror and half-heartedly polishing it with his sleeve.• Light polishes itself under the bushel.• Sheila and I were responsible for polishing the brass and crystal chandelier that hung over the dining-room table.• After she had polished the furniture, she cleaned the windows.• He polished the piano until the wood shone.• a polished wooden floorpolishpolish2 ●●● S3 noun 1 [countable, uncountable]DHC a liquid, powder, or other substance that you rub into a surface to make it smooth and shinyfurniture/shoe/floor etc polish → French polish2 [singular] especially British EnglishCLEAN an act of polishing a surface to make it smooth and shiny An occasional polish will keep wall tiles looking good.3 [uncountable]GOOD AT a high level of skill or style in the way someone performs, writes, or behaves Carla’s writing has potential, but it lacks polish.4 [singular]SHINE the smooth shiny appearance of something produced by polishing → spit and polish at spit2(5)Examples from the Corpus
polish• I wanted it to shine the windows and polish the tarnished feelings like a good spring house-cleaning.• They were beginning to achieve astonishing economic success; and only their children would acquire a certain polish.• furniture polish• A good polish now and then will keep the table looking new.• A good polish reviver can be made by mixing equal parts of raw linseed oil, substitute turps and vinegar.• What this dance troupe lacks in polish, they make up for in enthusiasm.• Not that any of this family into which Cara had chosen to marry had much polish.• Did I happen to have any nail polish with me?• The shoes I had on were white plastic trainers in need of polish.• His face was a light brown, shoe polish mixed with wax.• shoe polish• The polish on her fingernails neatly complemented the shade.furniture/shoe/floor etc polish• She smelled of leather and shoe polish.• They also won't pay if you get any shoe polish on their socks.• His face was a light brown, shoe polish mixed with wax.• Why should anyone discuss floor polish?• Exotic scent mingled with the more religious smells of incense, furniture polish and veneration.• I tried using some spray furniture polish, rubbed well in, on the areas that were jamming.• Missing were expensive black leather boots, the white shoe polish, a jumbo jar of Nivea.• To age the look of the gourds, she buffs them with shoe polish.PolishPol‧ish1 /ˈpəʊlɪʃ $ ˈpoʊ-/ adjective SLLSANrelating to Poland, its people, or its languagePolishPolish2 noun 1 → the Polish2 [uncountable] the language used in PolandOrigin polish1 (1200-1300) Old French polir, from Latin polire 