Etymology: (1300–50; ME varnisch < MF vernis, verniz < ML vernicium sandarac < MGk bern&imacracute;kē, syncopated var. of Gk Beren&imacracute;kē, city in Cyrenaica)
Definition of 'varnish'
Princeton's WordNet
1. (verb)varnish a coating that provides a hard, lustrous, transparent finish to a surface
1. (noun)varnish 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
2. (noun)varnish that which resembles varnish, either naturally or artificially; a glossyappearance
5. (noun)varnish to cover or conceal with something that gives a fair appearance; to give a fair coloring to by words; to gloss over; to palliate; as, to varnishguilt
Definition of 'varnish'
The Standard Electrical Dictionary
1. varnish A glossy transparent coating of the nature of paint, applied as a protective, or ornamentalcoating to objects.