veneer

American  

[vuh-neer] / vəˈnɪər /

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

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

Other Word Forms

• unveneered adjective
• veneerer noun

Etymology

Origin of veneer

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

Example Sentences

Even crime in Orange County has been sensationalized and glamorized, with themes veneered by opulence, secrecy and illusions of suburban perfection.

From Los Angeles Times

Human-created cultural products like film and writing will be positioned as most valuable, and priced accordingly as luxury goods and artworks, while elevated synthetic content will be “humanwashed” to create a veneer of faux humanness.

From The Wall Street Journal

But it strips away the sentimental veneer attaching fans to their college teams.

From The Wall Street Journal

It seems like she’s the one who’s hiding something, but James’ veneer of normality is not quite what it seems.

From Los Angeles Times

The same veneer of courtliness masked the same animal impulse to see the world as it is, rather than as it should be.

From Literature

Related Words

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