gloss

Gloss is a term with several related meanings. As a noun, it most often refers to the surface shine or luster of a material. A high-gloss finish reflects light vividly, while matte surfaces have little or no gloss. Gloss can describe the appearance of paint, porcelain, varnish, or fabric, indicating a polished or reflective quality rather than a color itself.

In textual studies and linguistics, a gloss is an explanatory note or translation added to a text. Glosses may appear in margins or between lines and are used to clarify difficult terms. In linguistics, an interlinear gloss provides a word-for-word translation aligned with the original morphemes, helping readers understand structure and meaning across languages.

Gloss also appears in cosmetics, where lip gloss or other glossy products produce a shiny finish on the lips or skin. This sense of gloss emphasizes a decorative or cosmetic effect rather than technical description.

Etymology and usage: the word gloss comes from Latin glossa and Greek glossa, meaning tongue or language. Historically a gloss served as a brief commentary or clarification on a manuscript. The verb form gloss over means to provide a superficial explanation or to downplay flaws, often implying that the explanation is insufficiently critical.

Overall, gloss encompasses physical shine, scholarly annotations, cosmetic finishes, and idiomatic phrases about explanations, reflecting its versatile role in language and objects.