varnished
/ˈvɑː.nɪʃt/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɑrnɪʃt] /ˈvɑːr.nɪʃt/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈɑrnɪʃt] /ˈvär-nish How to pronounce varnish (audio)/ (ame, mw)
varnished — adjective
- varnishedpositive
- more varnishedcomparative
- most varnishedsuperlative
1. covered with a hard, clear, shiny liquid that protects the surface of wood, furn
covered with a hard, clear, shiny liquid that protects the surface of wood, furniture, or other materials and gives it a glossy look.
The old church pews had beautifully varnished oak surfaces that gleamed in the sunlight.
varnished + noun (wood surface)
Zola spent the weekend sanding and polishing the varnished floorboards in the hallway.
A layer of dust had settled on the varnished shelves, hiding their natural shine.
The antique dealer carefully examined the varnished surface of the mahogany cabinet for scratches.
After years in the sun, the varnished wooden chairs had grown dull and needed refinishing.
- lacquered
similar to varnished but typically refers to a thinner, faster-drying finish; often used for metal or musical instruments
- polished
broader in meaning; can refer to any shiny surface achieved by rubbing, not necessarily with a liquid coating
- glossy
describes the appearance rather than the treatment; a varnished surface is always glossy
- unvarnished
not treated with varnish; also used figuratively to mean honest and plain
文法句型
varnished + noun
用法筆記
Usually placed before a noun describing the object that has been treated with varnish. The word focuses on the finished appearance rather than the process.
varnished — noun
1. a clear, shiny liquid that is brushed or sprayed onto wood or other surfaces to
a clear, shiny liquid that is brushed or sprayed onto wood or other surfaces to protect them and give them a glossy finish.
Mauricio stirred the can of varnish and dipped his brush into the thick, golden liquid.
a can of varnish
The strong smell of varnish filled the workshop where the carpenter was restoring old furniture.
Anjali bought a small tin of clear varnish to protect the wooden birdhouse she had just built.
Before applying the varnish, make sure the surface is completely clean and dry.
The finishing team gave the table a second coat of varnish to ensure a durable result.
- lacquer
a type of varnish that dries quickly to a hard, usually glossy finish; often used on metal
- shellac
a natural varnish made from insect resin; gives a warm, amber-coloured finish
- polyurethane
a synthetic varnish that is very durable and resistant to scratches and water
文法句型
varnish + noun
a coat of varnish
用法筆記
Can be used as an uncountable noun (varnish in general) or a countable noun (a particular type or can of varnish: 'a quick-drying varnish').
常見錯誤
2. the hard, shiny layer that forms on a surface after the liquid varnish has dried
the hard, shiny layer that forms on a surface after the liquid varnish has dried and hardened.
The varnish on the dining table had started to peel after twenty years of daily use.
the varnish peels / cracks
Wren used a special solvent to remove the old, yellowed varnish from the wooden picture frame.
Scratches in the dark varnish revealed the lighter pine wood underneath.
The varnish on the violin gave the instrument a warm, rich glow on stage.
Heat from the coffee cup left a white ring on the varnish of her desk.
文法句型
the varnish + verb
用法筆記
This sense describes the dried coating itself, not the liquid. Frequently used with verbs describing damage or aging (peel, crack, yellow, fade, scratch).
常見錯誤
3. a coloured or clear liquid used to paint and decorate fingernails or toenails.
a coloured or clear liquid used to paint and decorate fingernails or toenails.
Sivan painted her nails with a bright red varnish that matched her new dress perfectly.
nail varnish
The beauty shop sells over fifty shades of nail varnish in every colour imaginable.
fifty shades of nail varnish
Ingrid removed the chipped varnish from her nails before applying a fresh coat.
The bottle of clear nail varnish tipped over on the table and left a sticky puddle.
- nail polish
standard American English term for the same product
- nail lacquer
a formal or commercial term for high-quality nail varnish
文法句型
nail varnish
varnish + noun
用法筆記
In British English, 'nail varnish' is the standard term. In American English, 'nail polish' is preferred instead.
常見錯誤
4. an attractive outer appearance that hides an unpleasant, less attractive, or dis
an attractive outer appearance that hides an unpleasant, less attractive, or disappointing reality underneath.
Behind the thin varnish of polite conversation lay years of unresolved family conflict.
a varnish of + abstract noun
The company's cheerful advertisements were merely a varnish hiding serious financial trouble.
Rania saw through the varnish of the politician's speech and recognised the empty promises.
Tomás and Lara's friendship had a thin varnish of warmth that cracked under any real disagreement.
- substance
the genuine and important content beneath surface appearances
文法句型
a varnish of + noun
用法筆記
This figurative sense is always followed by 'of + noun' describing what is attractive on the surface. Frequently paired with 'thin' (a thin varnish of...) to emphasise the fragility of the surface appearance.
varnished — verb
- varnishedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- varnisheds3rd person singular
- varnisheding-ing form
- varnishededpast simple
1. to put a clear, shiny liquid onto a wooden or other surface in order to protect
to put a clear, shiny liquid onto a wooden or other surface in order to protect it and make it look glossy and attractive.
Rania spent the weekend varnishing the old wooden chairs for the new café.
varnishing + object (chairs)
Aoi carefully varnished the bookshelf with a fine brush, working along the grain of the wood.
varnished + object
The carpenter varnished the oak table and left it to dry overnight in the sun.
You should varnish the window frames every two years to keep them in good condition.
Kevin varnished the wooden boat and admired its fresh, glossy reflection in the water.
文法句型
varnish + noun (object being coated)
用法筆記
The object is usually a wooden object or surface. The verb describes both the action of spreading the liquid and the purpose of protection or beautification.
常見錯誤
2. to present something unpleasant or negative in a way that makes it seem better o
to present something unpleasant or negative in a way that makes it seem better or more acceptable than it really is.
The annual report varnished the company's losses with optimistic predictions for next year.
varnished + noun (losses) — figurative
Putri tried to varnish her poor exam results by listing better marks from other subjects.
The documentary showed how the regime had varnished its record for international audiences.
Historians argue that the biography varnishes the general's harsh decisions and leaves out key facts.
- gloss over
a phrasal verb with the same meaning; more common in everyday informal English
- whitewash
to deliberately hide unpleasant facts, especially about a person or organisation; stronger and more negative than 'varnish'
- sugar-coat
to make something unpleasant seem more pleasant; often used about personal communication rather than official reports
文法句型
varnish + noun (facts, truth, reality)
用法筆記
This figurative sense has a negative connotation — it implies that someone is being dishonest or misleading by presenting a prettier version of reality. The object is typically an abstract noun (truth, facts, record, losses, reality).
常見錯誤
3. to add decorative, interesting, or impressive details to a spoken or written acc
to add decorative, interesting, or impressive details to a spoken or written account in order to make it more appealing.
Femi varnished his retirement speech with quotations from famous philosophers.
varnished + speech — figurative embellishment
The novelist varnished the simple love story with vivid descriptions of the Italian countryside.
Joon varnished his travel diary with colourful anecdotes about the people he had met.
Uncle Kofi varnished his campaign speech with heroic tales of his early career.
- strip down
to remove decorative or unnecessary elements, leaving only the essentials
文法句型
varnish + noun (speech, story, account)
用法筆記
This sense is distinct from sense 2 because it describes adding attractive details for beauty or entertainment — not necessarily to hide something negative. It is quite rare in modern English; 'embellish' is more common.