Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense varnishes, present participle varnishing, past tense, past participle varnished
1. variable noun
Varnish is an oily liquid which is painted onto wood or other material to give it a hard, clear, shiny surface.
The varnish comes in six natural wood shades.
Synonyms: lacquer, polish, glaze, japan More Synonyms of varnish
2. singular noun
The varnish on an object is the hard, clear, shiny surface that it has when it has been painted with varnish.
He brought out the fiddle, its varnish cracked and blistered.
3. verb
If you varnish something, you paint it with varnish.
Varnish the table with two or three coats of water-based varnish. [VERB noun]
The floors have been varnished. [VERB noun]
...the varnished floorboards. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: polish, decorate, glaze, adorn More Synonyms of varnish
4. See also nail varnish
More Synonyms of varnish
varnish in British English
(ˈvɑːnɪʃ)
noun
1. 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
2.
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 called: natural 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. mainly British another word for nail polish
verb(transitive)
7.
to cover with varnish
8.
to give a smooth surface to, as if by painting with varnish
9.
to impart a more attractive appearance to
10.
to make superficially attractive
Derived forms
varnisher (ˈvarnisher)
noun
Word origin
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
varnish in American English
(ˈvɑrnɪʃ)
noun
1.
a.
a preparation made of resinous substances dissolved in oil (oil varnish) or in alcohol, turpentine, etc. (spirit varnish), used to give a hard, glossy surface to wood, metal, etc.
b.
any of various natural or prepared products used for the same purpose
2.
the hard, glossy surface produced
3.
a surface gloss or smoothness, as of manner
verb transitive
4.
to cover with varnish; brush varnish on
5.
to impart a smooth surface or appearance to, as with varnish
6.
to make superficially attractive or acceptable, as by embellishing
7.
to polish up; adorn
Derived forms
varnisher (ˈvarnisher)
noun
Word origin
ME vernisch < OFr verniz < ML veronix, veronice, a resin < Gr Berenikē (now Benghazi), ancient city in Cyrenaica
Perhaps that wasn't red varnish she was wearing, but the blood of the foreign secretary upon her fingernails.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It has a coating of clear varnish to make sure it stays together.
The Sun (2007)
You can do this after stripping off old varnish or paint and before you commence a revamp.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Then you can paint your nails in the way you apply nail varnish.
Guyton, Anita The Natural Beauty Book - cruelty-free cosmetics to make at home (1991)
She has to coat with clear nail varnish all metal surfaces she touches regularly.
The Sun (2010)
The factory originally manufactured paint and varnish.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Always run a top coat along the free edge of your nails after applying nail varnish.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Position over the nail and coat with clear nail varnish to stick.
The Sun (2014)
Take a different colour varnish and paint over the exposed tip.
The Sun (2015)
Keep them short and tidy but finish off with a glossy sheen of clear varnish.
The Sun (2009)
Paint nail varnish over the joints which will crack if tampered with.
Croft, James Corporate Cloak and Dagger (1994)
Varnish remover fumes mixed with a lit candle and erupted in flames which covered her from the neck down.
The Sun (2015)
He is said to have been part of a gang that used stolen credit cards to buy bomb ingredients including nail varnish remover.
The Sun (2009)
But most of us give more thought to choosing our socks or which nail varnish to apply than we do to looking after our joints properly.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And can I still wear nail varnish?
The Sun (2013)
Two of them - one sporting red nail varnish - seemed to be touching their feet together for comfort.
The Sun (2009)
Unlike the famous slogan for wood varnish, they very often don't do exactly what it says on the tin.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He said: 'This is not a case of polishing the front door and applying a coat of varnish to make it look better.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I changed red nail varnish to lipstick, but otherwise that's what it said.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I was in want of boots, of clothes, of the whole human varnish that makes a man perceptible.
Hans Christian Andersen Andersen's Fairy Tales (1874)
I had a strong sense of her femininity; she was wearing nail varnish, and had an aura of faintly sweet scent.
John Cornwell Seminary Boy (2006)
Word lists with
varnish
Art equipment
In other languages
varnish
British English: varnish /ˈvɑːnɪʃ/ NOUN
Varnish is an oily liquid which is painted onto wood to give it a hard, clear, shiny surface.
American English: varnish
Arabic: وَرْنِيش
Brazilian Portuguese: verniz
Chinese: 清漆
Croatian: lak
Czech: lak na dřevo
Danish: lak
Dutch: vernis
European Spanish: barniz
Finnish: lakka
French: vernis
German: Lack
Greek: βερνίκι
Italian: vernice
Japanese: ニス
Korean: 니스
Norwegian: lakk
Polish: lakier
European Portuguese: verniz
Romanian: lac
Russian: лак
Latin American Spanish: barniz
Swedish: fernissa
Thai: น้ำมันชักเงา
Turkish: cila vernik
Ukrainian: лак
Vietnamese: véc-ni
British English: varnish /ˈvɑːnɪʃ/ VERB
If you varnish something, you paint it with varnish.
Varnish the table with two or three coats of varnish.
American English: varnish
Arabic: يُبَرْنِقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: envernizar
Chinese: 给…涂清漆
Croatian: lakirati
Czech: lakovat natírat
Danish: lakere
Dutch: vernissen
European Spanish: barnizar
Finnish: lakata
French: vernir
German: lackieren Technik
Greek: βερνικώνω
Italian: verniciare
Japanese: ニスを塗る
Korean: 니스를 칠하다
Norwegian: lakkere
Polish: polakierować
European Portuguese: envernizar
Romanian: a lăcui
Russian: лакировать
Latin American Spanish: barnizar
Swedish: fernissa
Thai: ใส่น้ำมันชักเงา
Turkish: cilalamak vernik
Ukrainian: лакувати
Vietnamese: đánh véc-ni
All related terms of 'varnish'
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
nail varnish
Nail varnish is the same as → nail polish .
spar varnish
a varnish that forms a hard, durable , protective finish , used esp. on outdoor surfaces
varnish tree
any of various trees, such as the lacquer tree, yielding substances used to make varnish or lacquer
natural varnish
the sap of some trees used to produce a protective coating for things
shellac varnish
a yellowish resin secreted by the lac insect, esp a commercial preparation of this used in varnishes , polishes , and leather dressings
spirit varnish
a varnish consisting of a gum or resin, such as shellac or copal , dissolved in alcohol
cellulose varnish
a varnish made from cellulose nitrate , used as a protective sealing film
nail varnish remover
a solvent used to remove nail polish
nail polish remover
a solvent used to remove nail polish
shellac
Shellac is a kind of natural varnish which you paint on to wood to give it a shiny surface.
shellacked
a yellowish resin secreted by the lac insect, esp a commercial preparation of this used in varnishes , polishes , and leather dressings
Chinese translation of 'varnish'
varnish
(ˈvɑːnɪʃ)
n(c/u)
清漆 (qīngqī)
vt
给(給) ... 涂(塗)清漆 (gěi ... tú qīngqī)
to varnish one's nails给(給)指甲涂(塗)指甲油 (gěi zhǐjia tú zhǐjiayóu)
(noun)
Definition
a liquid painted onto a surface to give it a hard glossy finish
The varnish comes in six natural shades.
Synonyms
lacquer
We put on the second coating of lacquer.
polish
The air smelt of furniture polish.
glaze
hand-painted tiles with decorative glazes
japan
gloss
The rain produced a black gloss on the asphalt.
shellac
1 (verb)
Definition
to apply varnish to
The painting still has to be varnished.
Synonyms
lacquer
polish
glaze
After the pots are fired, they are glazed in a variety of colours.
japan
gloss
shellac
2 (verb)
Definition
to try to make (something unpleasant) appear more attractive
The floors have all been varnished.
Synonyms
polish
decorate
He decorated the box with glitter and ribbons.
glaze
adorn
Several oil paintings adorn the walls.
gild
lacquer
embellish
The boat was embellished with red and blue carvings.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adorn
Definition
to decorate
Several oil paintings adorn the walls.
Synonyms
decorate,
enhance,
deck,
trim,
grace,
array,
enrich,
garnish,
ornament,
embellish,
emblazon,
festoon,
bedeck,
beautify,
engarland
in the sense of decorate
Definition
to make more attractive by adding some ornament or colour
He decorated the box with glitter and ribbons.
Synonyms
adorn,
deck,
trim,
embroider,
garnish,
ornament,
embellish,
festoon,
bedeck,
beautify,
grace,
engarland
in the sense of embellish
Definition
to make (something) more attractive by adding decorations
The boat was embellished with red and blue carvings.
Synonyms
decorate,
enhance,
adorn,
dress,
grace,
deck,
trim,
dress up,
enrich,
garnish,
ornament,
gild,
festoon,
bedeck,
tart up (slang),
beautify
Nearby words of
varnish
variegated
variety
various
varnish
vary
varying
vassal
Synonyms of 'varnish'
varnish
Explore 'varnish' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of glaze
Definition
a protective shiny coating applied to a piece of pottery
hand-painted tiles with decorative glazes
Synonyms
coat,
finish,
polish,
shine,
gloss,
varnish,
enamel,
lacquer,
lustre,
patina
in the sense of glaze
Definition
to cover (a piece of pottery) with a protective shiny coating
After the pots are fired, they are glazed in a variety of colours.