noun1. Also called: oil varnish a preparation consisting of a solvent, a drying oil, and usually resin, rubber, bitumen, etc, for application to a surface where it polymerizes to yield a hard glossy, usually transparent, coating
2. a similar preparation consisting of a substance, such as shellac or cellulose ester, dissolved in a volatile solvent, such as alcohol. It hardens to a film on evaporation of the solvent
See also spirit varnish 3. Also called: natural varnish the sap of certain trees used to produce such a coating
4. a smooth surface, coated with or as with varnish
5. an artificial, superficial, or deceptively pleasing manner, covering, etc; veneer
6. mainly British another word for nail polish
verb (transitive)8. to give a smooth surface to, as if by painting with varnish
9. to impart a more attractive appearance to
10. to make superficially attractive
Word origin
C14: from Old French
vernis, from Medieval Latin
veronix sandarac, resin, from Medieval Greek
berenikē, perhaps from Greek
Berenikē, city in Cyrenaica, Libya where varnishes were used