veneer

1 of 2

noun

ve·​neer və-ˈnir 

1

: a thin sheet of a material: such as

a

: a layer of wood of superior value or excellent grain to be glued to an inferior wood

b

: any of the thin layers bonded together to form plywood

c

: a plastic or porcelain coating bonded to the surface of a cosmetically imperfect tooth

2

: a protective or ornamental facing (as of brick or stone)

3

: a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, display, or effect : facade, gloss

a veneer of tolerance

veneer

2 of 2

verb

veneered; veneering; veneers

transitive verb

1

: to overlay or plate (a surface, as of a common sort of wood) with a thin layer of finer wood for outer finish or decoration

broadly : to face with a material giving a superior surface

2

: to cover over with a veneer

especially : to conceal (something, such as a defect of character) under a superficial and deceptive attractiveness

veneerer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• facade
• façade
• gloss
• window dressing

Examples of veneer in a Sentence

Noun

a wall with a stone veneer

a dresser with mahogany veneer

Verb

The cabinet was veneered in oak.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At the South Pole during the summer, the carbon dioxide veneer disappears, leaving the frozen water exposed. —Discover Magazine, 8 Oct. 2024

But with his new veneer of legality, Blackbeard appeared to settle down. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024

Verb

Your table is almost certainly veneered, meaning that the top has a thin layer of beautiful wood glued to a base material, which could be plywood or particleboard. —Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2023

And if Psyche does have a rocky mantle, ferrovolcanic seeps could have veneered it with metal from the asteroid’s core. —Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 18 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

noun derivative of veneer entry 2, or borrowed directly from German (17th-century) furner, fornier (modern Furnier), noun derivative of fourniren, furniren "to apply thin strips of wood or other material (to cabinetwork, etc.)" — more at veneering

Verb

back-formation from veneering

First Known Use

Noun

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1742, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

veneer

1 of 2 noun

ve·​neer və-ˈni(ə)r 

1

: a thin layer of wood bonded to other wood usually to provide a finer surface or a stronger structure

2

: a protective or ornamental facing (as of brick)

veneer

2 of 2 verb

: to cover with a veneer

Medical Definition

veneer

noun

ve·​neer və-ˈni(ə)r 

: a plastic or porcelain coating bonded to the surface of a cosmetically imperfect tooth