polish
A. -noun
1. (=shoe polish)   betúnoun (m), bola (f) Mexico
(=furniture polish, floor polish) cera (f)
(=metal polish) líquido (m) para limpiar metales
(=nail polish) esmalte (m) or laca (m) (para las uñas)
2. (=act)
·my shoes need a polish
·mis zapatos necesitan una limpieza
·to give something a polish
·dar brillo a algo
3. (=shine)   lustre (m), brillo (m)
·high polish
lustre (m) brillante
·the buttons have lost their polish
·los botones han perdido su brillo or se han deslustrado
·to put a polish on something
·sacar brillo a algo
·the water takes the polish off
·el agua quita el brillo
4. (figurative)
(=refinement) refinamiento (m)
a. [of artistry etcetera] elegancia (f)
·he lacks polish
·le falta refinamiento
B. -transitive verb
1. (generally) pulir
[+shoes] limpiar,   lustrar especially Latin America,   bolear Mexico, embolar Chile
[+floor, furniture] encerar
[+pans, metal, silver] pulir (mechanically, industrially) pulimentar
2. (figurative) also polish up
(=improve) perfeccionar
[+manners] refinar
[+style etcetera] pulir, limar
[+one'noun Spanish etcetera] pulir, perfeccionar