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.
verb (used with object)
5.
to overlay or face (wood) with thin sheets of some material, as a fine wood, ivory, or tortoise shell.
6.
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.
7.
to cement (layers of wood veneer) to form plywood.
8.
to give a superficially valuable or pleasing appearance to.
Origin: 1695–1705; earlier fineering, faneering < German Fourni(e)rung, Furni(e)rung, equivalent to furni(e)ren to furnish (< French fournir) + -ung-ing1