Copal vs. Varnish

Copalnoun

A resinous exudation from various tropical trees, especially Hymenaea courbaril and Schinus terebinthifolia, used chiefly in making varnishes and printing ink.

Varnishnoun

A type of paint with a solvent that evaporates to leave a hard, transparent, glossy film.

Copal

A resinous substance flowing spontaneously from trees of Zanzibar, Madagascar, and South America (Trachylobium Hornemannianum, Trachylobium verrucosum, and Hymenæa Courbaril), and dug from earth where forests have stood in Africa; - used chiefly in making varnishes.

Varnishnoun

Anything resembling such a paint; glossy appearance.

Copalnoun

a brittle aromatic resin used in varnishes

Varnishnoun

(by extension) A deceptively showy appearance.

Copal

Copal is a name given to tree resin, particularly the aromatic resins from the copal tree Protium copal (Burseraceae) used by the cultures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica as ceremonially burned incense and for other purposes. More generally, the term copal describes resinous substances in an intermediate stage of polymerization and hardening between resins and amber.The word copal is derived from the Nahuatl language word copalli, meaning .

‘gummier’; ‘incense’;

Varnishnoun

a passenger train, probably derived from the varnished passenger cars used at one time.

Varnishverb

(intransitive) To apply varnish.

Varnishverb

(transitive) To cover up with varnish.

Varnishverb

(transitive) To gloss over a defect.

Varnishnoun

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.

Varnishnoun

That which resembles varnish, either naturally or artificially; a glossy appearance.

‘The varnish of the holly and ivy.’;

Varnishnoun

An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any act or conduct; outside show; gloss.

‘And set a double varnish on the fameThe Frenchman gave you.’;

Varnishverb

To lay varnish on; to cover with a liquid which produces, when dry, a hard, glossy surface; as, to varnish a table; to varnish a painting.

Varnishverb

To cover or conceal with something that gives a fair appearance; to give a fair coloring to by words; to gloss over; to palliate; as, to varnish guilt.

‘Close ambition, varnished o'er with zeal.’; ‘Cato's voice was ne'er employedTo clear the guilty and to varnish crimes.’;

Varnishnoun

paint that provides a hard glossy transparent coating

Varnishverb

cover with varnish

Varnishnoun

resin dissolved in a liquid for applying on wood, metal, or other materials to form a hard, clear, shiny surface when dry

‘the wood was stained with a dark varnish’; ‘several coats of varnish’;

Varnishnoun

short for nail varnish

‘her fingernails were painted with pink varnish’;

Varnishnoun

an external or superficially attractive appearance of a specific quality

‘an outward varnish of civilization’;

Varnishverb

apply varnish to

‘we stripped the floor and varnished it’; ‘her toenails were varnished red’;

Varnishverb

disguise or gloss over (a fact)

‘they varnished over their vices, and exaggerated their merit’;

Varnish

Varnish is a clear transparent hard protective coating or film. It is not a stain.