varnish

«varnish» in Mova's school dictionary: a clear liquid painted onto wood or other surfaces that… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 1 sentence of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

noun (varnish, a varnish, varnishes); verb (varnish, varnishes, varnished, varnishing)

meaning for a pupil

1) Varnish is a clear liquid painted onto wood or other surfaces that dries to make a hard, shiny, protective layer. tree →

2) To varnish something is to paint it with varnish. tree →

3) Nail varnish (UK, Australia; US: nail polish) is coloured paint for fingernails and toenails. tree →

4) Varnish can also mean the polished outward show of good manners or looks that makes a person seem fine. tree →

sense in the lessons

In design and technology and art lessons, pupils varnish wooden projects or clay models to protect them and make them shiny. In science, varnish is a waterproof coating that stops wood rotting. Safety: varnish has strong fumes; use it with an adult, in a room with open windows, and wash brushes properly. Phrases: «clear varnish», «nail varnish», «a coat of varnish».

examples

• Dad put a coat of varnish on the table. tree →
• We varnished our wooden boxes in DT. tree →
• Let the varnish dry before touching it. tree →
• My sister painted her nails with red nail varnish. tree →
• Varnish protects the wood from water. tree →
• Open a window when you use varnish. tree →
• The old varnish was cracked and peeling. tree →

note

Uncountable as a liquid («some varnish»); verb past: varnished. Not the same as paint: varnish is usually clear. Do not confuse with «vanish» (disappear) — one letter r.

In the corpora

• Sealants and fluoride varnish are quick, painless coatings that help protect the back teeth from decay.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «varnish» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.