varnish

1 of 2

noun

var·​nish ˈvär-nish 

1

a

: a liquid preparation that when applied to a surface dries to form a hard lustrous typically transparent coating

b

: the covering or glaze given by the application of varnish

c(1)

: something that suggests varnish by its gloss

(2)

: a coating (as of deposits in an internal combustion engine) comparable to varnish

2

: outside show : gloss entry 1

3

chiefly British : a liquid nail polish

varnishy

ˈvär-ni-shē 

adjective

varnish

2 of 2

verb

varnished; varnishing; varnishes

transitive verb

1

: to apply varnish to

2

: to cover or conceal (something, such as something unpleasant) with something that gives an attractive appearance : gloss entry 2

3

: adorn, embellish

varnisher

ˈvär-ni-shər 

noun

Examples of varnish in a Sentence

Noun

She accidentally scratched the varnish.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Several layers of paint and six layers of varnish made conservation difficult, said to Becca Hellen, the Trust's senior national conservator for paintings. —Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2023

On the exterior, the lowrider’s delicate chrome and gold plating sparkles against the car’s rich, olive-green varnish. —Natalie Arroyo Camacho, refinery29.com, 12 Sep. 2023

Spurred on by Sickles, Doubleday and others, the hearings added official varnish to the charges already circulating on the nation’s front pages. —Nicholas Liu, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2023

Paperback books often use varnish instead of lamination to create a glossy effect, and Petit Collage has been experimenting with stickers made with varnish instead of lamination, O’Donoghue said. —Ada Tseng, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2023

There are also sectionals with hardwood frames, which may need waterproof covers or varnish treatments for protection. —Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 8 Mar. 2023

PCBs are chemicals that were widely used in a variety of products including paint and varnishes, electrical equipment, insecticides, and coolants until they were banned in the late 1970s. —Kim Chipman, Bloomberg.com, 20 Sep. 2023

Beneath the varnish of flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos stand on a bedrock of mathematics, engineered to slowly bleed their patrons of cash. —Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2023

Each begins with the manual application of a clear coat of varnish, followed by a layer of color, shaded to the precise gradient. —Carol Besler, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2023

Verb

Homes built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, particularly in the Arts and Crafts or Victorian styles, often feature a wealth of oak woodwork stained or varnished to produce a medium brown or honey gold. —Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Nov. 2023

Made from solid wood with a top surface that’s partially varnished, these boards up your game with just the right amount of slide. —Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2023

Horse manure removal was another task, as well as varnishing and inspecting the heavy ladders used to save people trapped on upper floors. —Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2023

These weren’t for the database, but would make pretty bits to varnish and display. —Lauren Markham, Harper's Magazine, 1 July 2022

Granted, the time spent in sorrow over his bad fate is varnished over with tons of humor. —Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2023

The triple-doored case of the Coco de Mer was varnished and polished, with a lid coated with bronze. —Carol Besler, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2023

Popular Mechanics purists from the ‘30s would probably roll over in their graves upon hearing that, but acrylic urethane is harder and superior to varnish. —Jim Eicher, Popular Mechanics, 2 June 2020

Like the timber caprail, the wood is treated with oil rather than varnish to reduce maintenance and steer away from a high-gloss finish. —Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English vernyz, vernich, vernisch "dissolved resin used as a decorative or protective coating," borrowed from Anglo-French vernis (continental Old French verniz), borrowed from Medieval Latin veronix, vernix "resin," earlier "amber," restructured from Middle Greek berōnikón, beroníkē "yellow- or amber-colored glass, amber," probably going back to Greek bereníkion "natron, reddish- or yellowish-hued natron (used in making glass)," of uncertain origin

Note: The Greek word for "natron" has no evident connection with the city name Bereníkē in ancient Cyrenaica nor any of the other place-names based on the female given name Bereníkē borne by various Macedonian queens and princesses of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt.

Verb

Middle English vernysshen, borrowed from Middle French vernicier and Medieval Latin vernizāre, both derivative of Old French verniz varnish entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing varnish

• spar varnish
• varnish tree
• desert varnish
• spirit varnish
• nail varnish

• spar varnish
• varnish tree
• desert varnish
• spirit varnish
• nail varnish

Kids Definition

varnish

1 of 2 noun

var·​nish ˈvär-nish 

1

a

: a liquid that when spread and allowed to dry on a surface forms a hard shiny typically transparent coating

b

: the covering or shiny coating given by varnish

2

: false outward appearance

varnish

2 of 2 verb

: to cover with or as if with varnish

Medical Definition

varnish

noun

var·​nish ˈvär-nish 

: any of various liquid preparations that when spread and allowed to dry on a surface form a hard lustrous typically transparent coating and that include some used in dentistry to line deep cavities in order to protect the pulp of a tooth

varnish transitive verb