Bur·nish v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burnished p. pr. & vb. n. Burnishing.] To cause to shine; to make smooth and bright; to polish; specifically, to polish by rubbing with something hard and smooth; as, to burnish brass or paper.
The frame of burnished steel, that east a glare
From far, and seemed to thaw the freezing air. --Dryden.
Now the village windows blaze,
Burnished by the setting sun. --Cunningham.
Burnishing machine, a machine for smoothing and polishing by compression, as in making paper collars.
burnished
adj : made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a
sheen or glow; "bright silver candlesticks"; "a
burnished brass knocker"; "she brushed her hair until
it fell in lustrous auburn waves"; "rows of shining
glasses"; "shiny black patents" [syn: bright, lustrous,
shining, shiny]