veneer

[ vuh-neer ]
See synonyms for veneer on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. 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.

  2. a superficially valuable or pleasing appearance: a cruel person with a veneer of kindliness.

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.

  1. to cement (layers of wood veneer) to form plywood.

  2. to give a superficially valuable or pleasing appearance to.

Origin of veneer

1
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; cf. furnish ) + -ung -ing1

Other words for veneer

Other words from veneer

  • ve·neer·er, noun
  • un·ve·neered, adjective

Words Nearby veneer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use veneer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for veneer

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

  1. any facing material that is applied to a different backing material

  2. any one of the layers of wood that is used to form plywood

verb(tr)
  1. to cover (a surface) with a veneer

  2. to bond together (thin layers of wood) to make plywood

  1. to conceal (something) under a superficially pleasant surface

Origin of veneer

1
C17: from German furnieren to veneer, from Old French fournir to furnish

Derived forms of veneer

  • veneerer, noun

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