Burnish

To polish a surface until it becomes smooth and shining.

Reach for it when describing physical polishing by rubbing

The conservator used agate to burnish the gold leaf.

• everyday

  polish

  rubbing creates a smooth reflective finish

  not when Polish can use chemicals or remove material without the pressure implied by burnish.

• everyday

  shine

  the visible glossy result matters more than the method

  not when Shine can involve cleaning or coating and need not smooth the material.

• professional

  buff

  a wheel or cloth produces a shine on a surface

  not when Buff is informal as a verb and may remove scratches rather than compress the surface.

• professional

  smooth

  roughness is reduced without requiring gloss

  not when Smooth leaves out the shine that burnishing normally creates.

To improve the public impression or recognized quality of something.

Reach for it when describing deliberate enhancement of reputation or credentials

Years of dependable service helped burnish the cooperative's reputation.

• everyday

  improve

  plain language should avoid a polishing metaphor

  not when Improve may change real performance rather than public perception.

• professional

  enhance

  general improvement to standing or appeal is intended

  not when Enhance leaves unclear whether substance or image changed.

• professional

  strengthen

  evidence makes a reputation or case more credible

  not when Strengthen suggests added support, not added luster.

• formal

  refine

  careful adjustment makes the work or image more polished

  not when Refine implies subtle development and may not increase public esteem.

• tarnish
• roughen
• damage
• discredit

• burnish a surface

  The final tool will burnish a surface without cutting it.

• burnish a reputation

  Transparent repairs can burnish a reputation more than advertising.

• carefully burnish

  The apprentice will carefully burnish the edge after the adhesive cures.