varnish
/ˈvɑː(ɹ)nɪʃ/ · var·nish
noun
- A clear, hard, transparent coating made from a resin dissolved in a solvent, applied to wood, paint, or other surfaces to protect and give a glossy finish. She applied two coats of varnish to the table to bring out the grain.
- Anything that resembles such a coating in appearance, especially a glossy, smooth surface. The lake's surface had a varnish of early morning mist.
- (by extension) A deceptively attractive or showy appearance that masks underlying flaws. The politician's promises were just varnish over a lack of policy.
verb
- To apply varnish to something. He varnished the piano to protect its finish.
- To cover or conceal something with a varnish-like coating. The scandal was varnished by a flurry of press releases.
- To gloss over, conceal, or downplay a defect or problem. The report tried to varnish the project's delays.
Did you know? The word "varnish" appears in Shakespeare's "The Tempest," where Prospero says, "I have with such provision in my mind / That I shall never be a varnish of the world."