Definition of "varnish"

varnish

/ˈvɑː(ɹ)nɪʃ/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural varnishes
1. A type of paint with a solvent that evaporates to leave a hard, transparent, glossy film.
2. Anything resembling such a paint; glossy appearance.
  Quotations
  the varnish of the holly and ivy
  1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 12, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volumes (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans
3. (by extension) A deceptively showy appearance.
  Quotations
  And set a double varnish on the fame / The Frenchman gave you.
  c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene vii]
4. (rail transport, US, informal, dated) a passenger train, probably derived from the varnished passenger cars used at one time.
  Quotations
  Every transcontinental but two settled on the simple articulated for freight service, and all of them coupled their varnish to the 4-8-4.
  1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co.
verb
third-person singular simple present varnishes, present participle varnishing, simple past and past participle varnished
1. (intransitive) To apply varnish.
2. (transitive) To cover up with varnish.
3. (transitive) To make something superficially or deceptively attractive
4. (transitive) To gloss over a defect.
  Quotations
  [...] Go love thy infant; love thy wood-chopper: be good-natured and modest: have that grace; and never varnish your hard, uncharitable ambition with this incredible tenderness for black folk a thousand miles off. Thy love afar is spite at home.
  1841, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance”, in Essays: First Series

Definition of "varnish"

varnish

noun

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verb

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