English vocabulary · C1
Gloss
/ɡlɔːs/ · n., v.
Gloss is a few words that tell you what a hard word means. It sits right next to that hard word, like writing in the side of a book.
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Example sentences
- The old book had a gloss for each hard word.
- She wrote a gloss beside the strange symbol.
Word origin and roots
from Greek
- glossa — language (from Greek)
Synonyms and nuances
- NOTE — a short written comment (A Short Written Comment)
- FOOTNOTE — a note at the page bottom (Placed at the Page Bottom)
- ANNOTATION — a written explanation added (A Detailed Written Addition)
Words with the same root
glossa — language
- glossary — a list of hard words explained
- polyglot — someone who speaks many languages
Lesson notes
Gloss is a few words that tell you what a hard word means. It sits right next to that hard word, like writing in the side of a book.
Related: note, footnote, annotation. Use gloss when a word needs quick help.
The old book had a gloss for each hard word. She wrote a gloss beside the strange symbol.
From Greek. Glossa- means language. Words beside hard language make it clear, that is a gloss.