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

Light streams in through almost panoramic windows onto pale leather seats and polished wood veneer.

From BBC

According to critics, this symbiosis creates a scientific veneer for state violence, allowing law enforcement to brand old tactics of containment and harassment as “precise” and “data-driven.”

From Salon

Beneath the pretty veneer of Knysna - which is also retirement haven for more affluent South Africans - its water system is on the brink of collapse.

From BBC

They come with this veneer of society’s expectations and all of these things.

From Los Angeles Times

Uber Technologies CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has a warning for investors looking to invest in companies adopting artificial intelligence: Avoid those that are using AI to put a “veneer” on existing services.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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