varnish

[ vahr-nish ]

noun

1. a preparation consisting of resinous matter, as copal or lac, dissolved in an oil oil varnish or in alcohol spirit varnish or other volatile liquid. When applied to the surface of wood, metal, etc., it dries and leaves a hard, more or less glossy, usually transparent coating.
2. the sap of certain trees, used for the same purpose natural varnish.
3. any of various other preparations similarly used, as one having India rubber, pyroxylin, or asphalt as its chief constituent.
4. a coating or surface of varnish.
5. something resembling or suggesting a coat of varnish; gloss.
6. superficial polish or external show, especially to conceal some defect or inadequacy:

   The play has a varnish of witty dialogue.

7. British. nail polish.

verb (used with object)

1. to apply varnish to; coat or cover with varnish.
2. to give a glossy appearance to.
3. to give an improved appearance to; adorn.
4. to give a superficially pleasing appearance to, especially in order to deceive:

   to varnish the truth.

   Synonyms: disguise, gild

varnish

/ ˈvɑːnɪʃ /

noun

1. Also calledoil varnish a preparation consisting of a solvent, a drying oil, and usually resin, rubber, bitumen, etc, for application to a surface where it polymerizes to yield a hard glossy, usually transparent, coating
2. a similar preparation consisting of a substance, such as shellac or cellulose ester, dissolved in a volatile solvent, such as alcohol. It hardens to a film on evaporation of the solvent See also spirit varnish
3. Also callednatural varnish the sap of certain trees used to produce such a coating
4. a smooth surface, coated with or as with varnish
5. an artificial, superficial, or deceptively pleasing manner, covering, etc; veneer
6. another word for nail polish

verb

1. to cover with varnish
2. to give a smooth surface to, as if by painting with varnish
3. to impart a more attractive appearance to
4. to make superficially attractive

Derived Forms

• ˈvarnisher, noun

Other Words From

• varnish·er noun
• varnish·y adjective
• re·varnish verb (used with object)
• well-varnished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of varnish¹

1300–50; Middle English varnisch < Middle French vernis, verniz < Medieval Latin vernicium sandarac < Medieval Greek bernī́kē, syncopated variant of Greek Berenī́kē, city in Cyrenaica

Word History and Origins

Origin of varnish¹

C14: from Old French vernis, from Medieval Latin veronix sandarac, resin, from Medieval Greek berenikē, perhaps from Greek Berenikē, city in Cyrenaica, Libya where varnishes were used

Example Sentences

She told MPs that this included a “foetal skeleton posed under a glass dome, a human thigh bone turned into a cane, a human jawbone necklace and the varnished skull of a six-year-old”.

From BBC

And in 1990, a man sprayed acid on to the painting - although, this time, thanks to a guard's rapid intervention, only the varnish was damaged.

From BBC

Its pieces, including the beer cans, are made of acrylic paint on aluminum and varnish, and could be found in unexpected corners at LAM.

From Los Angeles Times

“We tried about a million different varnishes. It was epic.”

From BBC

They are all events where ceremony and vivid pictures varnish the more prosaic political promises.

From BBC

Related Words

• gild
• lacquer