policy|maker /pɒ l I sime I kə r / (policymakers ) also policy-maker N‑COUNT [usu pl] In politics, policymakers are people who are involved in making policies and policy decisions. □ …top economic policymakers.
po licy-making also policymaking N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Policy-making is the making of policies. □ He will play a key background role in government policy-making.
po|lio /poʊ lioʊ/ N‑UNCOUNT Polio is a serious infectious disease which often makes people unable to use their legs. □ Gladys was crippled by polio at the age of 3.
po|lio|my|eli|tis /poʊ lioʊma I əla I t I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Poliomyelitis is the same as polio . [MEDICAL ]
Po|lish /poʊ l I ʃ/
1 ADJ Polish means belonging or relating to Poland, or to its people, language, or culture.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Polish is the language spoken in Poland.
pol|ish /pɒ l I ʃ/ (polishes , polishing , polished )
1 N‑VAR Polish is a substance that you put on the surface of an object in order to clean it, protect it, and make it shine. □ The still air smelt faintly of furniture polish. □ …soap powders, detergents, and polishes.
2 VERB If you polish something, you put polish on it or rub it with a cloth to make it shine. □ [V n] Each morning he shaved and polished his shoes. [Also V ] ● N‑SING Polish is also a noun. □ He gave his counter a polish with a soft duster. ● pol|ished ADJ □ …a highly polished floor.
3 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone has polish , you mean that they show confidence and know how to behave socially. [APPROVAL ]
4 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that a performance or piece of work has polish , you mean that it is of a very high standard. [APPROVAL ] □ The opera lacks the polish of his later work.
5 VERB If you polish your technique, performance, or skill at doing something, you work on improving it. □ [V n] They just need to polish their technique. ● PHRASAL VERB Polish up means the same as polish . □ [V P n] Polish up your writing skills on a one-week professional course. [Also V n P ]
6 → see also polished , French polish , nail polish
7
▸ polish off PHRASAL VERB If you polish off food or drink, you eat or drink all of it, or finish it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n P ] No matter what he is offered to eat he polishes it off in an instant. □ [V P n] He polished off his Scotch and slammed the glass down.
▸ polish up → see polish 5
pol|ished /pɒ l I ʃt/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is polished shows confidence and knows how to behave socially. [APPROVAL ] □ He is polished, charming, articulate and an excellent negotiator.
2 ADJ If you describe a performance, ability, or skill as polished , you mean that it is of a very high standard. [APPROVAL ] □ It was simply a very polished performance.
3 → see also polish
Pol|it|bu|ro /pɒ l I tbjʊəroʊ/ (Politburos ) N‑COUNT In communist countries the Politburo is the chief committee that decides on government policy and makes decisions.
po|lite /pəla I t/ (politer , politest )
1 ADJ Someone who is polite has good manners and behaves in a way that is socially correct and not rude to other people. □ Everyone around him was trying to be polite, but you could tell they were all bored. □ It's not polite to point or talk about strangers in public. □ Gately, a quiet and very polite young man, made a favourable impression. □ I hate having to make polite conversation. ● po|lite|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ 'Your home is beautiful,' I said politely. ● po|lite|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ She listened to him, but only out of politeness.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You can refer to people who consider themselves to be socially superior and to set standards of behaviour for everyone else as polite society or polite company . □ Certain words are vulgar and not acceptable in polite society. PRAGMATICS politeness
In this dictionary, the label POLITENESS indicates that you use the word or expression in order to show good manners, and to avoid upsetting or embarrassing people. An example of an expression with this label is Would you mind…?
poli|tic /pɒ l I t I k/
1 ADJ If it seems politic to do a particular thing, that seems to be the most sensible thing to do in the circumstances. [FORMAL ] □ Many towns often found it politic to change their allegiance.
2 → see also body politic , politics
po|liti|cal ◆◆◆ /pəl I t I k ə l/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Political means relating to the way power is achieved and used in a country or society. □ All other political parties there have been completely banned. □ The Canadian government is facing another political crisis. □ …a democratic political system. ● po|liti|cal|ly /pəl I t I kli/ ADV [ADV adj/adv, ADV with v] □ They do not believe the killings were politically motivated. □ Politically and economically this is an extremely difficult question.
2 → see also party political
3 ADJ Someone who is political is interested or involved in politics and holds strong beliefs about it. □ This play is very political. SYNONYMS political ADJ 1
governmentaclass="underline" …a governmental agency for providing financial aid to developing countries.
state: …reform of the state social-security system.