- (n.) That which resembles varnish, either naturally or artificially; a glossy appearance.
- (n.) 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 painting.
- (n.) An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any act or conduct; outside show; gloss.
- (n.) 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 varnish guilt.
- (n.) 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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). Varnish. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/varnish/definitions/2078832 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "Varnish" http://smartdefine.org/varnish/definitions/2078832 (accessed September 22, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, Varnish, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/varnish/definitions/2078832>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "Varnish" 28 May 2011. Web. 22 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/varnish/definitions/2078832> |