gloss¹ / gläs; glôs/ • n. shine or luster on a smooth surface: hair with a healthy gloss. ∎ see lipgloss. ∎  (also gloss paint) a type of paint that dries to a bright shiny surface. ∎  [in sing.] a superficially attractive appearance or impression: beneath the gloss of success was a tragic private life.• v. [tr.] apply a cosmetic gloss to. ∎  apply gloss paint to. ∎  (gloss over) try to conceal or disguise (something embarrassing or unfavorable) by treating it briefly or representing it misleadingly: the social costs of this growth are glossed over.DERIVATIVES: gloss·er n.gloss² • n. a translation or explanation of a word or phrase. ∎  an explanation, interpretation, or paraphrase: the chapter acts as a helpful gloss on Pynchon's general method.• v. [tr.] (usu. be glossed) provide an explanation, interpretation, or paraphrase for (a text, word, etc.). ∎  [intr.] (gloss on/upon) archaic write or make comments, esp. unfavorable ones, about (something): those laws, which they assumed the liberty of interpreting and glossing upon.

gloss1 superficial lustre. XVI. of unkn. orig.
Hence as vb. (infl. by GLOSS2) give a specious appearance to, smoothe over. XVII. glossy XVI.

gloss2 interlinear or marginal explanation; (sophistical) interpretation. XVI. refash. of GLOZE after L. glōssa.

GLOSS

An annotation, explanation, or commentary on a particular passage in a book or document, which is ordinarily placed on the same page or in the margin to elucidate or amplify the passage.