varnish
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.
the sap of certain trees, used for the same purpose (natural varnish ).
any of various other preparations similarly used, as one having India rubber, pyroxylin, or asphalt as its chief constituent.
a coating or surface of varnish.
something resembling or suggesting a coat of varnish; gloss.
superficial polish or external show, especially to conceal some defect or inadequacy: The play has a varnish of witty dialogue.
British. nail polish.
to apply varnish to; coat or cover with varnish.
to give a glossy appearance to.
to give an improved appearance to; adorn.
to give a superficially pleasing appearance to, especially in order to deceive: to varnish the truth.
Origin of varnish
1Other words for varnish
Other words from varnish
- var·nish·er, noun
- var·nish·y, adjective
- re·var·nish, verb (used with object)
- well-varnished, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use varnish in a sentence
Today, the balloons are filled with helium and made of light fabric that’s coated with polyurethane, a type of polymer plastic that is used in thousands of different applications, from sponges to varnish.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has one star that always rises to the top | Erik Olsen | November 25, 2020 | Popular-ScienceDuring her visits, she massaged Shonray’s arms and legs and painted her nails — a clear varnish for her fingers and an electric shade of green for her toes.
Two School Districts Had Different Mask Policies. Only One Had a Teacher on a Ventilator. | by Annie Waldman and Heather Vogell | November 23, 2020 | ProPublicaThe walls and ceilings of the rooms were sheeted with pitch pine and varnished.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowThe man with the varnished hat shrugged his shoulders, and raised his eyebrows in doubt.
The Real Latin Quarter | F. Berkeley SmithWe have had the whole of our new house varnished, and it looks beautiful.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25) | Robert Louis Stevenson
Don' you think I'm blind and can't tell when you boys dig a broom into a varnished buggy!
A Hoosier Chronicle | Meredith NicholsonIt is quite difficult to keep from making finger marks on freshly varnished boards used as bases on electric devices.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 | Various
British Dictionary definitions for varnish
/ (ˈvɑːnɪʃ) /
Also called: oil 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
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
Also called: natural varnish the sap of certain trees used to produce such a coating
a smooth surface, coated with or as with varnish
an artificial, superficial, or deceptively pleasing manner, covering, etc; veneer
mainly British another word for nail polish
to cover with varnish
to give a smooth surface to, as if by painting with varnish
to impart a more attractive appearance to
to make superficially attractive
Origin of varnish
1Derived forms of varnish
- varnisher, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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