v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Burnished p. pr. & vb. n. Burnishing. ] [ OE. burnischen, burnissen, burnen, OF. burnir, brunir, to make brown, polish, F. brunir, fr. F. brun brown, fr. OHG. br&unr_;n; cf. MHG. briunen to make brown, polish. See Brown, a. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The frame of burnished steel, that east a glare
From far, and seemed to thaw the freezing air. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now the village windows blaze,
Burnished by the setting sun. Cunningham. [ 1913 Webster ]

Burnishing machine, a machine for smoothing and polishing by compression, as in making paper collars. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To shine forth; to brighten; to become smooth and glossy, as from swelling or filling out; hence, to grow large. [ 1913 Webster ]

A slender poet must have time to grow,
And spread and burnish as his brothers do. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

My thoughts began to burnish, sprout, and swell. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The effect of burnishing; gloss; brightness; luster. Crashaw. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who burnishes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A tool with a hard, smooth, rounded end or surface, as of steel, ivory, or agate, used in smoothing or polishing by rubbing. It has a variety of forms adapted to special uses. [ 1913 Webster ]