veneer
/vɪˈnɪə
/noun
1A thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material: a fine-grained veneer [mass noun]: the ceiling was of maple veneer...
- Much of today's furniture is made with a thin wood veneer over a core of particleboard, and this material also will rapidly absorb water.
- Then, make your pencil lines and cut on the back of the panel to avoid splintering the veneer with your circular saw.
- With a new blade in a utility knife, score the veneer front then back, flush with the stile on all edges; and bend it to complete the cut.
1.1A layer of wood used to make plywood.Some 874 cubic meters of the confiscated logs were meranti, a mahogany-like wood usually used for plywood and veneer....
- Wood does make an appearance, though, as both exterior cladding and interior veneer, all in the same rich teak harvested from western China.
Synonyms
surface, lamination, overlay, facing, covering, coat, finish, finishing coat, layer, decorative/protective layer, cladding, exterior;
patina, varnish, polish, glaze, film, membrane, skin, sheet
1.2 [in singular] An attractive appearance that covers or disguises someone or something’s true nature or feelings: her veneer of composure cracked a little...
- This story has taken on the image and the veneer of a fable and we are simply following the fable to its logical conclusion.
- Think about the thin veneer of civilization for a moment, and ask yourself how you would respond to chaos.
- Then the vocals kick in, stripping the veneer of respectability and reminding anyone who they are listening to.
Synonyms
facade, front, false front, show, outward display, appearance, false appearance, outward appearance, impression, image, semblance, posture, pose, guise, disguise, mask, masquerade, pretence, charade, illusion, gloss, camouflage, false colours, smokescreen, cover, cloak
archaic snivel
2 (also veneer crown) Dentistry A crown in which the restoration is placed over the prepared surface of a natural crown.Different types of restoration including fillings, crowns, veneers, inlays, onlays and root fillings....
- Bleaching won't work on false teeth, crowns, veneers or fillings (including tooth-coloured fillings).
- He received six crowns and 15 porcelain veneers.
verb [with object] (usually as adjective veneered)
1Cover (something) with a decorative layer of fine wood: a veneered cabinet...
- Hardwood veneered plywood, however, takes laser engraving very well.
- The interior features a considerable amount of hardwood and veneered plywood for a very yacht-like look.
- Part 2 covers veneering the face frames and other work on the cases (cabinets).
1.1Cover or disguise (someone or something’s true nature) with an attractive appearance: he exuded an air of toughness, lightly veneered by the impeccably tailored suit...
- Small talk and precious jokes veneer the sea of anxiety and anticipation that grips Dix - just one example of his ‘nervous’ energy.
- Whilst others try to veneer or pepper their works with Californian melodies, The Forest are purists and for that, much more original than their peers.
- His inspirations are the slickly veneered melodramas of the 1950s and '60s.
Origin
Early 18th century (earlier as fineer): from German furni(e)ren, from Old French fournir 'furnish'.
The earliest form of veneer was fineer. It came into English through German furnieren from Old French furnir ‘to furnish’, and so is related to furnish (Late Middle English) and furniture (early 16th century). The idea behind it is that of ‘furnishing’ a piece of furniture with a thin surface.