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varnish

var·nish
V v

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [vahr-nish]
    • /ˈvɑr nɪʃ/
    • /ˈvɑː.nɪʃ/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [vahr-nish]
    • /ˈvɑr nɪʃ/

Definitions of varnish word

  • noun varnish a preparation consisting of resinous matter, as copal or lac, dissolved in an oil (oil varnish) or in alcohol (spirit varnish) or other volatile liquid. When applied to the surface of wood, metal, etc., it dries and leaves a hard, more or less glossy, usually transparent coating. 1
  • noun varnish the sap of certain trees, used for the same purpose (natural varnish) 1
  • noun varnish any of various other preparations similarly used, as one having India rubber, pyroxylin, or asphalt as its chief constituent. 1
  • noun varnish a coating or surface of varnish. 1
  • noun varnish something resembling or suggesting a coat of varnish; gloss. 1
  • noun varnish superficial polish or external show, especially to conceal some defect or inadequacy: The play has a varnish of witty dialogue. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of varnish

First appearance:

before 1300
One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; Middle English varnisch < Middle French vernis, verniz < Medieval Latin vernicium sandarac < Medieval Greek bernī́kē, syncopated variant of Greek Berenī́kē, city in Cyrenaica

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Varnish

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

varnish popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 94% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

varnish usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for varnish

noun varnish

  • acrylic — Acrylic material is artificial and is manufactured by a chemical process.
  • chroma — the attribute of a colour that enables an observer to judge how much chromatic colour it contains irrespective of achromatic colour present
  • cloisonne — a design made by filling in with coloured enamel an outline of flattened wire put on edge
  • coating — A coating of a substance is a thin layer of it spread over a surface.
  • cover — If you cover something, you place something else over it in order to protect it, hide it, or close it.

verb varnish

  • antiqued — An antiqued object is modern but has been made to look like an antique.
  • antiquing — of or belonging to the past; not modern.
  • aurify — to turn into gold
  • begrime — to make dirty; soil
  • coat — A coat is a piece of clothing with long sleeves which you wear over your other clothes when you go outside.

Top questions with varnish

  • what is varnish?
  • how to varnish wood floors?
  • fluoride varnish how long before eating?
  • how to varnish wood?
  • what does varnish mean?
  • how to remove varnish?
  • how to remove varnish from wood?
  • how to apply varnish?
  • what is nail varnish?
  • how to paint over varnish?
  • what is spar varnish?
  • what is varnish cache?
  • how to varnish an oil painting?
  • how to varnish stained wood?
  • how long for nail varnish to dry?

See also

Matching words

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