veneer

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
veneer /vɪˈnɪə/

▶noun

• 1 a thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material.

  ■ a layer of wood used to make plywood.

• 2 an attractive appearance that covers or disguises someone or something's true nature or feelings: her veneer of composure cracked a little.

▶verb (usu. as adj. veneered) cover with a veneer.

– derivatives
veneering noun.

– origin C18 (orig. as fineer): from Ger. furni(e)ren, from OFr. fournir ‘furnish’.