unpolished

/ˌʌnˈpɒl.ɪʃt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌnˈpɑːl.ɪʃt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈpä-lisht/ (ame, mw)

unpolished — adjective

  • unpolishedpositive
  • more unpolishedcomparative
  • most unpolishedsuperlative

1. If wood, metal, stone, or another surface is unpolished, nobody has rubbed or fi

1.形容詞B2
釋義

If wood, metal, stone, or another surface is unpolished, nobody has rubbed or finished it to make it smooth and shiny.

例句

The carpenter left the oak table unpolished until Mia chose a stain.

leave + object + unpolished

In the museum shop, unpolished stones sat beside bright silver rings.

attributive: unpolished + noun

同義詞
  • unfinished

    broader and often used when a surface still needs paint, varnish, or another final step

  • raw

    suggests a natural state before treatment, especially for materials

  • rough

    focuses on the feel of the surface, not on whether it has been polished

反義詞
  • polished

    made smooth and bright by rubbing or finishing

  • buffed

    especially used when rubbing has improved the shine

  • varnished

    used mainly for wood covered with a protective finish

文法句型

unpolished + noun

look unpolished

leave something unpolished

用法筆記

Usually describes wood, metal, stone, or pottery whose surface has not yet been made bright or smooth. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about a person's manner or the quality of work.

常見錯誤

❌My shoes are unpolished because they are wet.
✅My shoes are unpolished because I have not shined them yet.
💡unpolished means not rubbed to a finished shine, not simply wet or dirty.

2. If a person, performance, or piece of work seems unpolished, it still feels awkw

2.形容詞C1
釋義

If a person, performance, or piece of work seems unpolished, it still feels awkward or uneven because practice or experience has not yet smoothed it out.

例句

During her first debate, Linh sounded unpolished but full of good ideas.

sound unpolished

The band's unpolished set drew cheers from friends at the tiny club.

used about a performance

同義詞
  • amateurish

    more negative and suggests poor quality rather than simple inexperience

  • awkward

    focuses on lack of ease, especially in social situations or movement

  • raw

    suggests early potential that has not been shaped by enough practice

  • rough

    often used for an early version that still needs revision

反義詞
  • polished

    smooth, confident, and well finished through practice

  • refined

    adds a sense of cultivated taste or good social behaviour

  • poised

    stresses calm self-control in front of other people

文法句型

sound unpolished

an unpolished speaker

an unpolished draft

用法筆記

Common with speakers, performances, writing, and social behaviour when the roughness comes from limited practice or experience. Distinguish from sense 1, which describes a physical surface rather than skill or poise.

常見錯誤

❌The violinist is unpolished because the instrument was dull.
✅The violinist sounds unpolished because her playing is still awkward.
💡this sense describes skill, delivery, or social manner, not the shine of an object.