vernissage

[ ver-nuh-sahzh; French ver-nee-sazh ]

noun,plural ver·nis·sages [ver-nuh-sah-zhiz; French ver-nee-sazh]. /ˌvɛr nəˈsɑ ʒɪz; French vɛr niˈsaʒ/.
  1. Also called varnishing day. the day before the opening of an art exhibition traditionally reserved for the artist to varnish the paintings.

  2. a reception at a gallery for an artist whose show is about to open to the public.

Origin of vernissage

1
1910–15; <French: literally, a varnishing, touching up (of paintings). See varnish, -age

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for vernissage

vernissage

/ (ˌvɜːnɪˈsɑːʒ) /


noun
  1. a preview or the opening or first day of an exhibition of paintings

  2. another term for varnishing day

Origin of vernissage

1
French, from vernis varnish

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012