veneer

¹ve·neer

noun \və-ˈnir\

Definition of VENEER

1

: a thin sheet of a material: as

a : a layer of wood of superior value or excellent grain to be glued to an inferior wood

b : any of the thin layers bonded together to form plywood

c : a plastic or porcelain coating bonded to the surface of a cosmetically imperfect tooth

2

: a protective or ornamental facing (as of brick or stone)

3

: a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, display, or effect : facade, gloss <a veneer of tolerance>

Examples of VENEER

1. a wall with a stone veneer
2. a dresser with mahogany veneer

Origin of VENEER

German Furnier, from furnieren to veneer, from French fournir to furnish, equip — more at furnish

First Known Use: 1702

Related to VENEER

Synonyms

facade (also façade), gloss, window dressing

Antonyms

inside, interior

Related Words

cotton candy, fluff, tinsel; fig leaf; charade, front, guise, masquerade, pose, semblance, show

Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, parapet, pilaster, plinth

Rhymes with VENEER

adhere, Aesir, Ajmer, all clear, ambeer, appear, arrear, Asir, Ayrshire, besmear, by ear, Cape Fear, career, cashier, cashmere, Cheshire, chimere, clavier, cohere, compeer, destrier, dog-ear, emir, Empire, endear, ensphere, eyrir, Fafnir, footgear, frontier, gambier, Goodyear, headgear, inhere, Izmir, Kashmir, kefir, killdeer, Landseer, leap year, life peer, light-year, man-year, menhir, midyear, mishear, monsieur, mouse-ear, mule deer, musk deer, nadir, near beer, New Year, off year, out-year, pickeer, portiere, premier, premiere, red deer, redear, rehear, reindeer, revere, revers, Robespierre, roe deer, root beer, santir, severe, Shakespeare, sincere, slick-ear, small beer, spruce beer, steer clear, Tangier, tapir, tin ear, uprear, Vanir, Vermeer, vizier, voir dire, wheatear, Wiltshire, wind shear, wood ear, worm gear, Ymir, Yorkshire, zaire, Zaire

²veneer

transitive verb

Definition of VENEER

1

: to overlay or plate (as a common wood) with a thin layer of finer wood for outer finish or decoration; broadly : to face with a material giving a superior surface

2

: to cover over with a veneer; especially : to conceal (as a defect of character) under a superficial and deceptive attractiveness

— ve·neer·er noun

Examples of VENEER

1. The cabinet was veneered in oak.

First Known Use of VENEER

1742

Other Handicraft Terms

biscuit, darn, tambour, wrought

ve·neer

noun \və-ˈni(ə)r\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of VENEER

: a plastic or porcelain coating bonded to the surface of a cosmetically imperfect tooth

veneer

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Extremely thin sheet of rich-coloured wood (such as mahogany, ebony, or rosewood) or precious materials (such as ivory or tortoiseshell) cut in decorative patterns and applied to the surface of a piece of furniture. Though veneering was practiced in Classical antiquity, its use lapsed in the Middle Ages. It was revived in the 17th century, reaching its apogee in France and spreading from there to other European countries. The considerable craftsmanship involved in artistic veneering is most evident in the 18th and early 19th centuries, when Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite, and Thomas Sheraton used mahogany and satinwood veneers. By the mid-19th century mechanical saws allowed the veneering process to be used in mass production to cover defects in cheap furniture.