Var·nish n.
 1. A viscid liquid, consisting of a solution of resinous matter in an oil or a volatile liquid, laid on work with a brush, or otherwise. When applied the varnish soon dries, either by evaporation or chemical action, and the resinous part forms thus a smooth, hard surface, with a beautiful gloss, capable of resisting, to a greater or less degree, the influences of air and moisture.
 Note: ☞ According to the sorts of solvents employed, the ordinary kinds of varnish are divided into three classes: spirit, turpentine, and oil varnishes.
 2. That which resembles varnish, either naturally or artificially; a glossy appearance.
    The varnish of the holly and ivy.   --Macaulay.
 3. An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any act or conduct; outside show; gloss.
 And set a double varnish on the fame
 The Frenchman gave you.   --Shak.
 Varnish tree Bot., a tree or shrub from the juice or resin of which varnish is made, as some species of the genus Rhus, especially Rhus vernicifera of Japan. The black varnish of Burmah is obtained from the Melanorrhœa usitatissima, a tall East Indian tree of the Cashew family. See Copal, and Mastic.
 varnish tree
      n 1: large tree native to southeastern Asia; the nuts yield oil
           used in varnishes; nut kernels strung together are used
           locally as candles [syn: candlenut, Aleurites
           moluccana]
      2: small Asiatic tree yielding a toxic exudate from which
         lacquer is obtained [syn: lacquer tree, Chinese lacquer
         tree, Japanese lacquer tree, Japanese varnish tree, Japanese
         sumac, Toxicodendron vernicifluum, Rhus verniciflua]