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. See spirit varnish
   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. See nail polish
   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

Coffins, which are made of different types of steel and wood that are treated with varnishes, release zinc, aluminum, and copper that could corrode and seep into soils via cemetery leachate.

From Popular-Science

Celebrities like Pete Davidson and Machine Gun Kelly have donned nail varnish, while Tyler, the Creator and TikToker LilHuddy have developed their own polish and nail art products.

From Digiday

She described scraping a varnish of roach dung from the walls before scrubbing them.

From ProPublica

They are equally good at preparing a smooth, scratch-free surface for the application of varnish or other finishes.

From Popular-Science

Conservators typically start by cleaning off old varnish, selectively removing it where it makes sense to lighten the colors behind it, replacing the smallest amounts they can get away with.

From The Daily Beast

Christie spoke passionately about his late mother, who “spoke the truth bluntly, directly, and without much varnish.”

From The Daily Beast

The varnish of a beautiful amber colour, and there are a few instances of fine red.

From Project Gutenberg

The varnish is of first quality, and his violins are yearly becoming more valuable and of greater importance.

From Project Gutenberg

Another is quite equal, more highly finished and has his splendid red varnish.

From Project Gutenberg

Neither the model, the wood, nor the varnish possesses much verisimilitude at different periods of his career.

From Project Gutenberg

He also occasionally, but much more seldom, used red coloured varnish.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gild
• lacquer