varnish
/ˈvɑːnɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɑrnɪʃ] /ˈvɑːrnɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈɑrnɪʃ] /ˈvär-nish How to pronounce varnish (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈvɑː.nɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɑrnɪʃ] /ˈvɑːr.nɪʃ/ (ame, ipa)
varnish — noun
- varnishsingular
- varnishesplural
1. a liquid that people brush onto wooden surfaces or metal objects; once it dries
a liquid that people brush onto wooden surfaces or metal objects; once it dries it creates a glossy protective layer against scratches and moisture
Ravindra brushed a second coat of varnish onto the oak table he had just finished building.
noun: coat of varnish (collocation for applying layers)
The old wooden floorboards had lost their shine, so Nora stripped the old varnish and applied a fresh layer.
Esme waited until the varnish on the bookshelf was completely dry before putting her books back.
Camila chose a matt varnish for the dining chairs because she preferred a softer, more natural-looking finish.
文法句型
varnish + is; a varnish + is
用法筆記
Varnish is usually uncountable ("some varnish"), but it can be countable when referring to a specific brand or type ("a good varnish lasts for years").
常見錯誤
varnish — verb
- varnishpresent simple I / you / we / they
- varnishes3rd person singular
- varnishing-ing form
- varnishedpast simple
1. to cover a hard surface such as wood or metal with a thin layer of varnish in or
to cover a hard surface such as wood or metal with a thin layer of varnish in order to protect it and give it a smooth shiny finish
Liang spent the whole Saturday afternoon varnishing the bookshelves he had just built for the study.
varnishing + object (furniture)
The carpenter varnished the cedar window frames to protect them from winter rain.
Karim varnished the surface of the violin body carefully, spreading each coat as thin and even as possible.
The deck chairs had turned grey from the sun, so Beatriz sanded them down and varnished them.
文法句型
varnish + noun phrase (object)
用法筆記
The object of 'varnish' is the surface being coated, not the coating material itself. You varnish the table, not the varnish.
常見錯誤
2. to put a coloured or clear liquid onto fingernails or toenails to make them look
to put a coloured or clear liquid onto fingernails or toenails to make them look attractive and shiny
Putri varnished her nails a bright coral colour before she went to her cousin's wedding party.
varnish + nails + colour (commonly used pattern)
Henry noticed his sister varnishing her toenails with a sparkling blue polish on the balcony.
Before her job interview, Dahlia varnished her fingernails with a simple clear coat so they would look neat.
The woman at the salon varnished Sari's nails in under fifteen minutes and charged a very reasonable price.
- paint (one's nails)
the more common term in American English; more general everyday phrasing
- polish
can be used as a noun ('nail polish') or a verb; 'polish' is more common in the US
文法句型
varnish + noun (nail / fingernail / toenail)
用法筆記
In American English this sense is usually expressed as 'paint (one's) nails' or 'put on nail polish'. 'Varnish' in this sense is predominantly British English.