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DictionarysheenLustrous brightness
noun / adjective

sheen

SHEEN/ʃiːn/

A soft shine or lustrous appearance.

The silk scarf has a soft sheen in the sunlight.

A folded piece of dark green silk with soft smooth reflected light, subtle sheen not glitter.
Etymology
sheenOld Englishbeautiful, bright

Old English sciene described something beautiful or bright. The adjective became a noun for brightness or luster, the quality seen in a surface’s soft shine.

In context

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the terms finish and sheen can be used interchangeably they both refer to the same thing which is the level of shine in a particular paint
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More examples

  • A thin sheen of oil floats on the water.
  • She buffs the wooden table to a gentle sheen.
  • These paints come in several different sheens.

Forms

sheen · sheens

Similar words

luster
Often suggests a rich, deep shine, especially on polished materials.
gloss
Usually suggests a smoother, more reflective finish than sheen.
shine
A broader term for brightness, whether soft or strong.