From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishveneerve‧neer /vəˈnɪə $ -ˈnɪr/ noun 1 [countable, uncountable]DHFTIC a thin layer of wood or plastic that covers the surface of a piece of furniture made of cheaper material, to make it look betterwalnut/maple/oak etc veneer2 → a veneer of politeness/sophistication etc
Examples from the Corpus
veneer• So they have to find their way into the international financial system, where they can be given a veneer of legality.• I hope the unity will be more than a veneer by the end.• By this he means acquiring a thin veneer of knowledge to mask his corruption.• I was afraid alcohol would eat through the thin veneer of self-control.• Suddenly your grown-up veneer gives way to a childlike sensitivity that causes you to feel-within minutes-wonderful happiness and acute distress.• walnut veneerwalnut/maple/oak etc veneer• The label is in fact not paper, but a maple veneer - a classy touch.• The saloons had perforated plywood benches like the Milnes cars, maple veneer ceilings with lighting along the sides only.• In the old days before the First World War, Papa had traded in the walnut veneer business.• The oak veneer top was so warped it resembled the surface of the sea in a moderate chop.Origin veneer (1700-1800) German furnier, from furnieren “to veneer”, from French fournir; → FURNISH 