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

see all synonyms and antonyms

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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