gloss

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [U,sing.] a shine on a smooth surface: paper with a high gloss on one side * The gel gives your hair a gloss. * You can have the photos with either a gloss or a matt finish. * Use over your favourite lipstick to add extra gloss. 2 [U] (often in compounds) a substance designed to make sth shiny: lip gloss 3 (also gloss paint) [U] paint which, when dry, has a hard shiny surface: two coats of gloss 4 [U,sing.] an attractive appearance that is only on the surface and hides what is not so attractive: Beneath the gloss of success was a tragic private life. * This scandal has taken the gloss off the occasion. 5 [C] ~ (on sth) a way of explaining sth to make it seem more attractive or acceptable: The director puts a Hollywood gloss on the civil war. 6 [C] ~ (on sth) a note or comment added to a piece of writing to explain a difficult word or phrase verb [VN] ~ sth (as sth) to add a note or comment to a piece of writing to explain a difficult word, phrase or idea PHRASALVERBS gloss over sth to avoid talking about sth unpleasant or embarrassing by not dealing with it in detail: to gloss over a problem / difficulty / situation * He glossed over any splits in the party.