varnish

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A clear or translucent liquid coating composed of resin dissolved in a solvent, which dries by evaporation to form a hard, protective, and typically glossy finish.
2. (countable, uncountable) Anything resembling such a coating; a glossy appearance.
3. (broadly, countable, figuratively, uncountable) A deceptively showy appearance.
4. (US, countable, dated, informal, uncountable) A passenger train, probably derived from the varnished passenger cars used at one time.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To apply varnish.
2. (transitive) To cover up with varnish.
3. (transitive) To make something superficially or deceptively attractive
4. (transitive) To gloss over a defect.

Synonyms

lacquer

paint

polish

🇵🇱

shellac

enamel

glaze

coat

🧥

veneer

lacker

coating

seal

🦭

gloss

smear

wax

japan

🗾

lac

burnish

plaster

pretence

quit

rub

shine

sleek

spray

spread

sticky

vehicle

bakeapple

gussy up

spread on

urushi

varnish tree

oil varnish

lac varnish

sealing paint

varnish lacquer

stop

🛑

lacquer varnish

abate

adorn

black

brighten

cease

discontinue

dope

embellish

furbish

give up

gloss over

Japan

🗾

Translations

vernis

barniz

Lack

vernice

verniciare

Firnis

envernizar

vernir

verniz

lakken

βερνίκι

lacca

🕳️

barnizar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈvɑː(ɹ)nɪʃ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: vernisch

In summary

From Middle English vernisch, vernish, from Old French vernis, from Medieval Latin vernix, veronix, from Byzantine Greek Βερενίκη (Bereníkē, “Berenice”), a town in Cyrenaica, now called Benghazi.