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Shiny vs Glossy - What's the difference?

shiny | glossy |

As adjectives the difference between shiny and glossy

is that shiny is reflecting light while glossy is having a smooth, silklike, reflective surface.

As nouns the difference between shiny and glossy

is that shiny is anything shiny; a trinket while glossy is a glossy magazine.

shiny

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Reflecting light.
  • * :
    • Bender: Bite my shiny metal ass!
  • Emitting light.
  • (colloquial) Excellent; remarkable.
  • (obsolete) Bright; luminous; clear; unclouded.
  • * (rfdate) (Dryden)
    • Like distant thunder on a shiny day.
  • * The Lincolnshire Poacher (traditional song)
    • When I was bound apprentice in famous Lincolnshire
    Full well I served my master for nigh on seven years
    Till I took up to poaching as you shall quickly hear
    Oh, 'tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year.

    Derived terms

    * shininess

    Noun

    (shinies)
  • (informal) Anything shiny; a trinket.

    • glossy

    English

    (wikipedia glossy)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Having a smooth, silklike, reflective surface.

    • Antonyms

    * matte

    Noun

    (glossies)
  • (chiefly, British, informal) a glossy magazine
    • The supermarket glossies are full of celebrity gossip and fad diets.