veneer Hear it!

veneer definition

ve·neer (və nir)

transitive verb

  1. to cover with a thin layer of more costly material; esp., to cover (wood) with wood of finer quality
  2. to give a superficially attractive appearance to
  3. to glue together (thin layers of wood) to form plywood

Etymology: Ger furnieren, to veneer < Fr fournir, to furnish

noun

  1. a thin surface layer of fine wood or costly material laid over a base of common material
  2. any of the thin layers glued together in plywood
  3. any attractive but superficial appearance or display a veneer of culture

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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