varnish
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a clear liquid painted onto wood or other surfaces to protect them and make them look shiny.
n.a clear or translucent liquid coating that dries to form a hard, protective, and typically glossy finish on surfaces like wood.
Simple“He applied a second coat of varnish to the wooden table to protect it from water.”
In context“The restorer carefully stripped the yellowed varnish from the antique cabinet before applying a modern, UV-resistant finish.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the substance; countable when referring to a specific type or brand.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a way of behaving or speaking that makes something seem better or more polite than it really is.
n.a deceptively attractive or showy appearance that masks the true nature of something.
Simple“Behind his varnish of politeness, he was actually quite a rude person.”
In context“The politician's sophisticated varnish began to crack under the pressure of the journalist's relentless questioning about the scandal.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to cover a surface with varnish to make it shiny and protected.
v.to apply a resinous coating to a surface for protection or aesthetic enhancement.
Simple“We need to varnish the deck before the rainy season starts.”
In context“The carpenter spent the afternoon varnishing the hand-carved banisters to highlight the natural grain of the oak.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to try to make something bad seem better than it is by hiding the truth.
v.to gloss over a defect or to make something superficially attractive in a deceptive manner.
Simple“The report tried to varnish the truth about the company's financial problems.”
In context“The biographer was criticized for attempting to varnish the subject's well-known history of cruelty with stories of his occasional charity.”
UsageOften used with 'over' in the sense of hiding a mistake.
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.