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varnish
[ vahr-nish ]
noun
- a preparation consisting of resinous matter, as copal or lac, dissolved in an oil oil varnish or in alcohol spirit varnish or other volatile liquid. When applied to the surface of wood, metal, etc., it dries and leaves a hard, more or less glossy, usually transparent coating.
- the sap of certain trees, used for the same purpose natural varnish.
- any of various other preparations similarly used, as one having India rubber, pyroxylin, or asphalt as its chief constituent.
- a coating or surface of varnish.
- something resembling or suggesting a coat of varnish; gloss.
- superficial polish or external show, especially to conceal some defect or inadequacy:
The play has a varnish of witty dialogue.
- British. nail polish.
varnish
/ ˈvɑːnɪʃ /
noun
- Also calledoil 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
- 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
- Also callednatural varnish the sap of certain trees used to produce such a coating
- a smooth surface, coated with or as with varnish
- an artificial, superficial, or deceptively pleasing manner, covering, etc; veneer
- another word for nail polish
verb
- to cover with varnish
- to give a smooth surface to, as if by painting with varnish
- to impart a more attractive appearance to
- to make superficially attractive
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Derived Forms
- ˈvarnisher, noun
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Other Words From
- varnish·er noun
- varnish·y adjective
- re·varnish verb (used with object)
- well-varnished adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of varnish1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of varnish1
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Example Sentences
Coffins, which are made of different types of steel and wood that are treated with varnishes, release zinc, aluminum, and copper that could corrode and seep into soils via cemetery leachate.
Celebrities like Pete Davidson and Machine Gun Kelly have donned nail varnish, while Tyler, the Creator and TikToker LilHuddy have developed their own polish and nail art products.
She described scraping a varnish of roach dung from the walls before scrubbing them.
They are equally good at preparing a smooth, scratch-free surface for the application of varnish or other finishes.
Conservators typically start by cleaning off old varnish, selectively removing it where it makes sense to lighten the colors behind it, replacing the smallest amounts they can get away with.
Christie spoke passionately about his late mother, who “spoke the truth bluntly, directly, and without much varnish.”
The varnish of a beautiful amber colour, and there are a few instances of fine red.
The varnish is of first quality, and his violins are yearly becoming more valuable and of greater importance.
Another is quite equal, more highly finished and has his splendid red varnish.
Neither the model, the wood, nor the varnish possesses much verisimilitude at different periods of his career.
He also occasionally, but much more seldom, used red coloured varnish.
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