noun
varnish
VAH-nihsh
noun
1
A clear liquid that dries to form a hard, glossy protective coating on wood or other surfaces.
"He applied three coats of varnish to the old table before letting it dry."
2
A misleading or showy appearance that hides the truth.
"Beneath the varnish of good manners, he was thoroughly ruthless."
verb
1
To coat something with varnish.
"She varnished the bookshelf to protect it from scratches."
2
To make something seem better than it really is; to gloss over a flaw.
"The press release varnished the company's disappointing results."
How to Use Varnish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVarnish is a protective glossy coating for wood — and figuratively, a superficial polish that hides something less impressive underneath.
Common pairings
coat of varnish
varnish over
apply varnish
Word Forms
varnished past tense, varnishes plural, varnishes singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “varnish”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He applied three coats of _____ to the old table before letting it dry.
Etymology
From Old French vernis, tracing back through Medieval Latin to the Greek name for a town in North Africa (Berenice) once linked to resin production.