Meaning & use
lipgloss
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Meaning
nouncountable or uncountable
A shiny, often tinted cosmetic that is spread over the lips to make them look glossy and moist.
Grammar: Uncountable as a substance (some lipgloss) and countable for products (three lipglosses).
Patterns
- apply lipgloss
- a tube of lipgloss
She dabbed a little lipgloss on before the photo.
I always keep a tube of lipgloss in my coat pocket.
The pink lipgloss smelled faintly of strawberries.
Word forms
| plural | lipglosses |
|---|
Common combinations
- apply lipgloss
- She applied lipgloss in the mirror on the train.
- sparkly lipgloss
- The little girl begged for sparkly lipgloss.
- a tube of lipgloss
- A tube of lipgloss was all she had in her bag.
- clear lipgloss
- He noticed the clear lipgloss on her lips.
- wear lipgloss
- Students aren't allowed to wear lipgloss in the school play.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lipstick
- Lipstick is firmer and usually more colorful and matte, whereas lipgloss adds shine and is lighter.
- lip balm
- Lip balm is meant to protect and soften the lips, while lipgloss is mainly cosmetic.
- lip tint
- A lip tint gives a stain of color without much shine.
Word family
Commonly confused: lipgloss or lip balm?
lipgloss vs lip balm
Lip balm treats dryness, usually without color. Lipgloss is for appearance and shine.
Practice
Which product is mainly used to make lips look shiny?
Choose one answer.
Lipgloss is a glossy lip cosmetic. Lipstick colors lips but is usually less shiny, and mascara and foundation are used elsewhere on the face.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lipgloss”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.