All 4 Uses

burnish
in
Killing Kennedy
(Auto-generated)

His lack of coat, top hat, scarf, or gloves is an intentional ploy to burnish his athletic image.†
p. 8.6 *

burnish = polish and make shiny; or to improve something
JFK has long been aware that revelations about his philandering would ruin not only that carefully burnished image of him as a family man but also his political future.†
p. 173.1

burnished = polished and made shiny; or improved something
A movie about Kennedy's old boat, PT-109, is a popular summer hit, further burnishing the president's heroic image.†
p. 198.1

burnishing = polishing and making shiny; or improving something
It has been argued that Camelot was a myth concocted by Jackie Kennedy to burnish her husband's legacy.†
p. 301.9

burnish = polish and make shiny; or to improve something

Definitions:

(1) (burnish)
to polish, especially to make metal shiny; or more generally, to improve or enhance something’s appearance or reputation
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
As a noun, something that is burnished is something that was rubbed to make it shiny.