shoe polish vs polish

shoe polish and polish both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
shoe polish	Yes	No	No	No
polish	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, polish is a hypernym of shoe polish; that is, polish is a word with a broader meaning than shoe polish:

shoe polish: a substance used to produce a shiny protective surface on footwear
polish: a preparation used in polishing

shoe polish (noun)	polish (noun)
a substance used to produce a shiny protective surface on footwear	the property of being smooth and shiny
	a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
	a preparation used in polishing

shoe polish (verb)	polish (verb)
	bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state
	improve or perfect by pruning or polishing
	make (a surface) shine