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Floss vs Gloss - What's the difference?

floss | gloss |

As nouns the difference between floss and gloss

is that floss is a thread, used to clean the area between the teeth while gloss is a surface shine or luster/lustre.

As verbs the difference between floss and gloss

is that floss is to clean the area between the teeth using floss while gloss is to give a gloss or sheen to.

floss

English

Etymology 1

(Dental floss) 1750, from (etyl) . Related to fleece.

Noun

(es)
  • a thread, used to clean the area between the teeth
  • (raw) silk fibres
  • the fibres covering a corn cob
  • Any thread-like material having parallel strands that are not spun or wound around each other.
    • embroidery floss
  • (British) Spun sugar or cotton candy, especially in the phrase "candy floss".

    • Verb

    (es)
  • To clean the area between the teeth using floss .
  • (African American Vernacular English) To show off, especially by exhibiting one’s wealth or talent.
  • * 2003 , Vladimir Bogdanov, All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap and Hip-Hop , Backbeat Books, page 554:
    • As the label's name no doubt implies, these rappers aren't your typical crew, even if they still like to floss and represent their city.
  • * 2003 , Wang, Oliver, Classic Material: The Hip-Hop Album Guide , ECW Press, page 134:
    • “Ms. Jackson” is probably the most sensitive—and realistic—take on relationships to come out of hip-hop, while “Red Velvet” cautions would-be playas against pushing the floss envelope around “dirty boys” just waiting for a chance to add some gray flecks to that fur.
  • * 2007 , Azie Faison, Agyei Tyehimba, Game Over: The Rise and Transformation of a Harlem Hustler , Simon and Schuster, page 69:
    • It's impossible to floss wealth without attracting envy.
    Related terms
    * dental floss

    Etymology 2

    Compare (etyl) Floss a float.

    Noun

    (es)
  • (UK) A small stream of water.
  • Fluid glass floating on iron in the puddling furnace, produced by the vitrification of oxides and earths which are present.
    • Derived terms
    * floss hole (Webster 1913) ----

    gloss

    English

    Etymology 1

    From a Germanic language, perhaps (etyl), (etyl) or (etyl) (compare ).

    Noun

  • (uncountable) A surface shine or luster/lustre
  • (uncountable, figuratively) A superficially or deceptively attractive appearance
  • * Goldsmith
    • To me more dear, congenial to my heart, / One native charm than all the gloss of art.
  • * 2013 , Daniel Taylor, Danny Welbeck leads England's rout of Moldova but hit by Ukraine ban'' (in ''The Guardian , 6 September 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/06/england-moldova-world-cup-qualifier-matchreport]
    • Hodgson may now have to bring in James Milner on the left and, on that basis, a certain amount of gloss was taken off a night on which Welbeck scored twice but barely celebrated either before leaving the pitch angrily complaining to the Slovakian referee.
    Synonyms
    * (surface shine ): brilliance, gleam, luster/lustre, sheen, shine * (superficially or deceptively attractive appearance ): , front, veneer
    Related terms
    * glossy

    Verb

    (es)
  • To give a gloss or sheen to.
  • To make (something) attractive by deception
  • * Philips
    • You have the art to gloss the foulest cause.
  • To become shiny.
    • Synonyms
    * (give a gloss or sheen to ): polish, shine * (make (something) attractive by deception ): * (become shiny ):

    Etymology 2

    From .

    Noun

    (wikipedia gloss) (es)
  • (countable) A foreign, archaic, technical, or other uncommon word requiring explanation.
  • (countable) A brief explanatory note or translation of a difficult or complex expression, usually inserted in the margin or between lines of a text.
  • * Hudibras
    • All this, without a gloss or comment, / He would unriddle in a moment.
  • (countable) A glossary; a collection of such notes.
  • (countable) An extensive commentary on some text.
  • (rfv-sense) (countable) A deliberately misleading explanation.
    • (Dryden)
  • (countable) A brief explanation in speech or in a written work, including a synonym used with the intent of indicating the meaning of the word to which it is applied
  • (countable, legal, US) An interpretation by a court of specific point within a statute or case law
  • * 2007 Bruce R. Hopkins. The law of tax-exempt organizations. p. 76
    • Judicial Gloss on Test [section title]
  • * 1979 American Bar Foundation. Annotated code of professional responsibility . p. ix
    • This volume is thus not a narrowly defined treatment of the Code of Professional Responsibility but rather represents a "common law" gloss on it.
    Synonyms
    * (brief explanatory note or translation of a difficult or complex expression ): explanation, note * (glossary ): glossary, lexicon * (extensive commentary on some text ): commentary, discourse, discussion * (deliberately misleading explanation ): deception, lie
    Related terms
    * glossary

    Verb

    (es)
  • To add a gloss to (a text).
  • (rfv-sense) To give a deliberately false interpretation of.
    • Synonyms
    * (add a gloss to ): annotate, mark up * (give a deliberately false interpretation of ): misrepresent

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