gloss

Noun

• an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading
  • he hoped his claims would have a semblance of authenticity
    
  • he tried to give his falsehood the gloss of moral sanction
    
  • the situation soon took on a different color
    

• the property of being smooth and shiny

• an alphabetical list of technical terms in some specialized field of knowledge; usually published as an appendix to a text on that field

• an explanation or definition of an obscure word in a text

Verb

• give a deceptive explanation or excuse for
  • color a lie
    

• provide an interlinear translation of a word or phrase

• provide interlinear explanations for words or phrases
  • He annotated on what his teacher had written
    

• give a shine or gloss to, usually by rubbing

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  semblance , color , colour , polish , glossiness , burnish , glossary , rubric , comment , annotate