[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/gloss/)

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# gloss

noun (gloss, glosses); verb (gloss, glosses, glossed, glossing)

«gloss» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A smooth shine on a surface: the gloss on a new car. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#m1)
2. Gloss paint: shiny paint used on doors and wood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#m2)
3. A make-up product that makes lips shiny: lip gloss. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#m3)
4. A short explanation of a word or phrase, often written in the margin or in a glossary. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#m4)
5. (verb) «Gloss over» means to talk about a problem quickly so people do not notice it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#m5)

### In the lessons

In art and DIY, gloss paint is shiny and easy to wipe, unlike matt paint. In reading and language lessons a gloss explains a hard word; a glossary is a list of them at the back of a book. In everyday talk, «glossing over» a mistake means hiding it by not talking about it. Phrases: gloss paint, lip gloss, high gloss, gloss over.

### Examples

- Dad painted the door with white gloss. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#x1)
- The horse's coat had a lovely gloss after brushing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#x2)
- My sister wears strawberry lip gloss. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#x3)
- The book gives a gloss for each hard word. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#x4)
- The coach glossed over our mistakes and praised our effort. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#x5)
- Photos can be printed in gloss or matt. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#x6)
- Don't gloss over the problem, tell me what really happened. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#x7)
- Be clean, for the strength of the hunter is known by the gloss of his hide. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/#x8)

### Note

Plural: glosses. Uncountable when it means shine: «the gloss on the floor». Opposite of gloss paint is matt (UK) / matte (US). «Glossy» is the adjective: a glossy magazine. «Glossary» is a list of glosses (word meanings).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «gloss» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gloss/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gloss» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gloss.html) on Mova free.