varnish
n. C / Un. a clear liquid that you paint onto wood or metal to make it look shiny and protect it from damage. When it dries, it forms a hard, thin layer on the surface.
n. a liquid preparation consisting of a resin dissolved in an oil or spirit, which dries to form a hard, transparent, protective coating. Often used figuratively to describe a superficial appearance of a quality.
He applied a fresh coat of varnish to the old table.
The carpenter recommended a high-gloss varnish to protect the outdoor deck from rain and sun damage.
Beneath his polite varnish of professional courtesy lay a deep-seated resentment toward the management's recent decision to restructure the department.
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.
Uncountable when referring to the substance in general; countable when referring to specific types or individual coats.