First Known Use: 1702
Dictionary
1veneer
noun ve·neer \və-ˈnir\
: a thin layer of wood or other material that is attached to the surface of something in order to make it look better
: a way of behaving or appearing that gives other people a false idea of your true feelings or situation
Full Definition of VENEER
1
: a thin sheet of a material: 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
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Origin of VENEER
German Furnier, from furnieren to veneer, from French fournir to furnish, equip — more at furnish
Other Architecture Terms
Rhymes with VENEER
adhere, Aesir, Ajmer, all clear, ambeer, appear, arrear, Asir, Ayrshire, besmear, by ear, Cape Fear, career, cashier, cashmere, Cheshire, chimere, clavier, cohere, compeer, destrier, dog-ear, emir, Empire, endear, ensphere, eyrir, Fafnir, footgear, frontier, gambier, Goodyear, headgear, inhere, Izmir, Kashmir, kefir, killdeer, Landseer, leap year, life peer, light-year, man-year, menhir, midyear, mishear, monsieur, mouse-ear, mule deer, musk deer, nadir, near beer, New Year, off year, out-year, pickeer, portiere, premier, premiere, red deer, redear, rehear, reindeer, revere, revers, Robespierre, roe deer, root beer, santir, severe, Shakespeare, sincere, slick-ear, small beer, spruce beer, steer clear, Tangier, tapir, tin ear, uprear, Vanir, Vermeer, vizier, voir dire, wheatear, Wiltshire, wind shear, wood ear, worm gear, Ymir, Yorkshire, zaire, Zaire
2veneer
verb
: to cover (something) with a veneer
Full Definition of VENEER
transitive verb
1
: to overlay or plate (as a common 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 (as a defect of character) under a superficial and deceptive attractiveness
— ve·neer·er noun
See veneer defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of VENEER
1742
VENEER Defined for Kids
veneer
noun ve·neer \və-ˈnir\
Definition of VENEER for Kids
: a layer of material that provides a finer surface or a stronger structure
Medical Dictionary
veneer
noun ve·neer \və-ˈni(ə)r\
Medical Definition of VENEER
: a plastic or porcelain coating bonded to the surface of a cosmetically imperfect tooth
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