Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Varnish
Var′nish
,Noun.
[OE.
vernish
, F. vernis
, LL. vernicium
; akin to F. vernir
to varnish, fr. (assumed) LL. vitrinire
to glaze, from LL. vitrinus
glassy, fr. L. vitrum
glass. See Vitreous
.] 1.
A viscid liquid, consisting of a solution of resinous matter in an oil or a volatile liquid, laid on work with a brush, or otherwise. When applied the varnish soon dries, either by evaporation or chemical action, and the resinous part forms thus a smooth, hard surface, with a beautiful gloss, capable of resisting, to a greater or less degree, the influences of air and moisture.
☞ According to the sorts of solvents employed, the ordinary kinds of varnish are divided into three classes: spirit, turpentine, and oil varnishes.
Encyc. Brit
2.
That which resembles varnish, either naturally or artificially; a glossy appearance.
The
varnish
of the holly and ivy. Macaulay.
3.
An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any act or conduct; outside show; gloss.
And set a double
The Frenchman gave you.
varnish
on the fameThe Frenchman gave you.
Shakespeare
Varnish tree
(Bot.)
, Var′nish
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Varnished
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Varnishing
.] 1.
To lay varnish on; to cover with a liquid which produces, when dry, a hard, glossy surface;
as, to
. varnish
a table; to varnish
a painting2.
To cover or conceal with something that gives a fair appearance; to give a fair coloring to by words; to gloss over; to palliate;
“Beauty doth varnish age.” as, to
. varnish
guiltShak.
Close ambition,
varnished
o’er with zeal. Milton.
Cato's voice was ne'er employed
To clear the guilty and to
To clear the guilty and to
varnish
crimes. Addison.
Webster 1828 Edition
Varnish
V'ARNISH
,Noun.
1.
A thick, viscid, glossy liquid, laid on work by painters and others, to give it a smooth hard surface and a beautiful gloss. Varnishes are made of different materials and for different purposes. amber varnish is made of amber, lintseed oil, litharge and turpentine. Black varnish, for japanning wood and leather, is made by mixing lampblack with a proper quantity of a strong solution of gum-lac in spirit of wine.2.
An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any act or conduct.V'ARNISH
, v.t.1.
To lay varnish on; to cover with a liquid, for giving any thing a glossy surface; as, to varnish a sideboard or table.2.
To cover with something that gives a fair external appearance.Close ambition, varnish'd o'er with zeal.
3.
To give a fair external appearance in words; to give a fair coloring to; as, to varnish errors or deformity.Cato's voice was ne'er employ'd to clear the guilty, and to varnish crimes.
And bow the knee to pomp that loves to varnish guilt.
Definition 2024
varnish
varnish
English
Noun
varnish (countable and uncountable, plural varnishes)
- A type of paint with a solvent that evaporates to leave a hard, transparent, glossy film.
- Anything resembling such a paint; glossy appearance.
- Macaulay
- the varnish of the holly and ivy
- Macaulay
- (by extension) A deceptively showy appearance.
- Shakespeare
- And set a double varnish on the fame / The Frenchman gave you.
- Shakespeare
Related terms
- nail varnish
- varnish tree
Translations
transparent paint
|
anything resembling such a paint
a deceptively showy appearance
Verb
varnish (third-person singular simple present varnishes, present participle varnishing, simple past and past participle varnished)
- (intransitive) To apply varnish.
- (transitive) To cover up with varnish.
- (transitive) To gloss over a defect.
Derived terms
Translations
to apply varnish
|
to cover up with varnish
to gloss over a defect
|
|