veneer

/vəˈnɪr/
noun
  1. A thin layer of decorative material (such as wood) applied to a cheaper or stronger surface.
    • The door has a mahogany veneer that gives it an elegant look.
    • The cabinet is made of particleboard with a cherry wood veneer.
    • They chose a walnut veneer for the table to keep costs down.
  2. An attractive or impressive appearance that covers the true nature of something or someone.
    • Underneath her confident veneer, she was extremely nervous.
    • His friendly smile was just a veneer hiding his real anger.
    • The company's green image is a thin veneer over its polluting practices.
Synonyms
verb
  1. To cover something with a thin decorative layer.
    • The craftsman carefully veneered the jewelry box with rosewood.
    • They veneered the old table with a beautiful oak surface.
    • We decided to veneer the kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them.
  2. To conceal something unpleasant or unattractive behind a pleasant appearance.
    • The politician tried to veneer his harsh policies with kind words.
    • The report veneers the company's losses with optimistic projections.
    • She veneered her jealousy with exaggerated praise.
Synonyms
What does "veneer" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean