burnish
Make shine brightly
Burnish means to polish something by rubbing it until it shines: burnished brass, burnished leather.
The word suggests a deep, lustrous glow rather than a bright sparkle.
Figuratively, to burnish is to enhance or improve the appearance of something abstract: burnish one's reputation, burnish one's credentials.
Avid fan; also burnish
- rubApply friction manually
- shineEmit or reflect light
- waxPliable waterproof substance
- clothWoven or knit material
chamois · microfiber · elbow grease · abrasive · sandpaper · emery · grit · scour
buff
Avid fan; also burnish
cloth · chamois · microfiber · elbow grease · abrasive · sandpaper · emery · grit · scour · lapping
sheen
Soft surface luster
radiance · shimmer · sparkle · glint · brightness · shiny · glossy · reflective · gleaming · satin
improve
Raise in quality
perfect · cultivate · embellish · finesse · sharpen · develop · advance · strengthen · enrich · revitalize
- art verbsdraw, paint, sketch, sculpt, carve
- craftsmanshiphandcrafted, craft, handiwork, stitching, welding
- finishespainted, varnish, paint, matte silver, enamel
- light effectsshine, glow, gleam, shimmer, glitter
- sheenluster, shine, gloss, sheen, gleam
- rubsback rub, belly rub, foot rub, rub down, shoulder rub
- burnished goldRubbed-smooth precious metal