different between improve vs zhoosh

English

Alternative forms

• emprove (obsolete)

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman emprouwer, from Old French en- + prou (“profit”), from Vulgar Latin prode (“advantageous, profitable”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?p?u?v/
• Rhymes: -u?v

Verb

improve (third-person singular simple present improves, present participle improving, simple past and past participle improved)

1. (transitive) To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
2. (intransitive) To become better.

   • “My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”

3. (obsolete) To disprove or make void; to refute.
   • 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man

     Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another cannot improve.

4. (obsolete) To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.
   • 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man

     When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing.

5. (dated) To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.
   • a. 1677, Isaac Barrow, The Reward of Honouring God (sermon)

     We shall especially honour God, by discharging faithfully those offices which God hath entrusted us with: by improving diligently those talents which God hath committed to us

   • a hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved

   • the court has also an opportunity, which it seldom fails to improve.

   • 1715, Isaac Watts, Against Idleness and Mischief

     How doth the little busy bee / Improve each shining hour.

   • March 7, 1778, George Washington, letter

     True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion.

Synonyms

• (to make something better): ameliorate, better, batten, enhance; See also Thesaurus:improve

Antonyms

• (to make something worse): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:aggravate
• (to become worse): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:worsen

Derived terms

• improvement
• improver
• improving

Translations

Further reading

• "improve" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 160.

English

Alternative forms

• jush, tszuj, zhuzh, zhoozh

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???/, /???/

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Angloromani yuser (“clean”, verb) and yusher (“clear”, verb), from Angloromani yus-, yuz-, yuzh- (“clean”) and yush- (“clear”), from Romani žuž-, už- (“clean”, adjective). Cognate with Hindi ??????? (ujjval, “bright”).

Verb

zhoosh (third-person singular simple present zhooshes, present participle zhooshing, simple past and past participle zhooshed)

1. (transitive, originally Polari, Britain and Australia, slang) To tweak, finesse or improve (something); to make more appealing or exciting. Usually with up.
   • 2013, Hilary Mantel, ‘Royal Bodies’, London Review of Books, 35.IV:

     Get your pink frilly frocks out, zhuzh up your platinum locks. We are all Barbara Cartland now.

Adjective

zhoosh (comparative more zhoosh, superlative most zhoosh)

1. (South Africa, slang) stylish, hot, cool

Etymology 2

Onomatopoeic, from the sound of the blender.

Verb

zhoosh (third-person singular simple present zhooshes, present participle zhooshing, simple past and past participle zhooshed)

1. To blend ingredients together using an electric food mixer.

Noun

zhoosh (plural zhooshes)

1. The action of mixing ingredients using an electric food mixer; a pulse of mixing.