veneer

1 of 2

noun

ve·​neer və-ˈnir How to pronounce veneer (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The psychologist in her 30s — who did not want to give her surname — visited Albania for dental veneers and a lip procedure with the hopes of improving her smile. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune Europe, 31 Oct. 2024 Selected real wood veneers are used and Audiovector also offers custom finishes, hand-painted in Denmark. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 29 Oct. 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 See all Example Sentences for veneer 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of veneer was in 1702

Dictionary Entries Near veneer

Cite this Entry

“Veneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/veneer. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

veneer

1 of 2 noun
ve·​neer və-ˈni(ə)r How to pronounce veneer (audio)
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 How to pronounce veneer (audio)
: a plastic or porcelain coating bonded to the surface of a cosmetically imperfect tooth

More from Merriam-Webster on veneer

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