varnish
/ˈvɑːnɪʃ
/noun [mass noun]
1Resin dissolved in a liquid for applying on wood, metal, or other materials to form a hard, clear, shiny surface when dry: several coats of varnish [count noun]: the wood was stained with a dark varnish...
- Both cabins have redwood siding that appears to have been given a clear coat of varnish or shellac.
- The rockers were made of wood, their dark varnish scuffed and scraped.
- Lots of glue was used to fix this all in place, and over the top of all this a few layers of varnish or shellac were applied to finally seal the whole thing.
Synonyms
lacquer, lac, shellac, japan, enamel, glaze, polish, oil, resin, wax
1.1 short for nail varnish. her fingernails were painted with pink varnish...
- Her colleague, who already had her coat on, looked up then looked down again, picking chipped pink varnish from the edge of a finger nail.
- The lady filed and shaped our nails, cleaned our cuticles and painted 4 layers of varnish on them.
- Joan looked up from examining her bitten nails, wondering if she should pick up a new black varnish.
1.2 [in singular] literary An external or superficially attractive appearance of a specific quality: an outward varnish of civilization...
- Extremist impulses have acquired a varnish of respectability through the intercession of the socialist leaders.
- It was reduced to the purely decorative art of whether or not to put the varnish of international approval on a decision already made.
- It would take a lot more than suggesting Lincoln was gay to strip some of the varnish off of his image.
verb [with object]
Apply varnish to: we stripped the floor and varnished it [with object and complement]: her toenails were varnished red...
- Both rooms are painted in a rich red and have varnished pine floors, picture rails and attractive brick fireplaces.
- Belt sanders are relatively inexpensive to hire and while sanding and varnishing floors is tough work, buyers will love the results.
- The floors and banisters had been varnished and polished till they gleamed, the frames of paintings had received a thorough cleaning.
Synonyms
lacquer, shellac, japan, enamel, glaze, polish, oil, resin, wax
Derivatives
varnisher
- For the ceiling of this room alone, Allard employed designers, cabinetmakers, carpenters, ‘omamanists,’ carvers, gilders, and varnishers.
- Time, helped by the eager brushes of varnishers and retouchers, has altered many a painting so that even its old master wouldn't know it.
- Painters and varnishers carry out their work independently and in a customer-oriented manner on the basis of work orders, plans and designs, both alone and as part of a team.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French vernis, from medieval Latin veronix 'fragrant resin, sandarac' or medieval Greek berenikē, probably from Berenice, a town in Cyrenaica.
Varnish is from Old French vernis, from medieval Latin veronix ‘fragrant resin,’ which comes from medieval Greek berenikē from Berenice, the name of a town in Cyrenaica, a region of Libya.