veneer

[ vuh-neer ]

noun

1. a thin layer of wood or other material for facing or inlaying wood.
2. any of the thin layers of wood glued together to form plywood.
3. Building Trades. a facing of a certain material applied to a different one or to a type of construction not ordinarily associated with it, as a facing of brick applied to a frame house.
4. a superficially valuable or pleasing appearance:

   a cruel person with a veneer of kindliness.

   Synonyms: guise, mask, show, front, facade

verb (used with object)

1. to overlay or face (wood) with thin sheets of some material, as a fine wood, ivory, or tortoise shell.
2. to face or cover (an object) with any material that is more desirable as a surface material than the basic material of the object; revet.
3. to cement (layers of wood veneer) to form plywood.
4. to give a superficially valuable or pleasing appearance to.

veneer

/ vɪˈnɪə /

noun

1. a thin layer of wood, plastic, etc, with a decorative or fine finish that is bonded to the surface of a less expensive material, usually wood
2. a superficial appearance, esp one that is pleasing

   a veneer of gentility

3. any facing material that is applied to a different backing material
4. any one of the layers of wood that is used to form plywood

verb

1. to cover (a surface) with a veneer
2. to bond together (thin layers of wood) to make plywood
3. to conceal (something) under a superficially pleasant surface

Derived Forms

• veˈneerer, noun

Other Words From

• ve·neerer noun
• unve·neered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of veneer¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; earlier fineering, faneering, from German Fourni(e)rung, Furni(e)rung (from furni(e)ren “to furnish,” from French fournir; furnish ) + -ung -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of veneer¹

C17: from German furnieren to veneer, from Old French fournir to furnish

Example Sentences

Smyth’s position within the church gave him a veneer of trustworthiness that opened doors for him to abuse.

From BBC

By the end of the inning, they had scored five runs to tie the game and puncture Cole’s veneer of invulnerability.

From Los Angeles Times

Fox News was quick to slap a veneer of normality on Trump’s aspirations of erecting a Nazi-like regime in his image.

From Los Angeles Times

Her performance was a delight, with a veneer of snobbery from which would emerge the masterly put down, particularly in the case of Mr Novello's failed movie.

From BBC

"Roseanne" peeled back the veneer around the grunt work of parenting and allowed ongoing problems in the family to stay messy and unresolved.

From Salon

Related Words

• coating
• exterior
• facade
• gloss
• layer
• mask
• semblance