Paint vs. Varnish — What's the Difference?

Paint is any pigmented liquid, liquefiable, or solid mastic composition that, after application to a substrate in a thin layer, converts to a solid film. It is most commonly used to protect, color, or provide texture to objects.

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

A liquid mixture, usually of a solid pigment in a liquid vehicle, used as a decorative or protective coating.

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

The thin dry film formed by such a mixture when applied to a surface.

Apply varnish to

The solid pigment before it is mixed with a vehicle.

A liquid that contains a solvent and an oxidizing or evaporating binder and is applied to a surface to produce a hard, transparent finish after evaporation and curing.

A cosmetic, such as rouge, that is used to give color to the face; makeup.

The smooth coating or gloss resulting from the application of this liquid

(Basketball) The free throw lane.

Something suggestive of or resembling varnish.

A Paint horse.

An often deceptive external appearance or outward show

(Slang) The face cards in a deck of cards

To cover with varnish.

To make (a picture) with paints.

To give a smooth and glossy finish to.

To represent in a picture with paints.

To give a superficial or deceptive appearance to

To depict vividly in words.

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

To coat or decorate with paint

Anything resembling such a paint; glossy appearance.

To apply cosmetics to.

(by extension) A deceptively showy appearance.

To apply medicine to; swab

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

To shine a laser beam on, especially in order to designate a target for laser-guided munitions.

(intransitive) To apply varnish.

To practice the art of painting pictures.

(transitive) To cover up with varnish.

To cover something with paint.

(transitive) To make something superficially or deceptively attractive

To apply cosmetics to oneself

(transitive) To gloss over a defect.

To serve as a surface to be coated with paint

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.

A substance that is applied as a liquid or paste, and dries into a solid coating that protects or adds color/colour to an object or surface to which it has been applied.

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

(in the plural) A set of containers or blocks of paint of different colors/colours, used for painting pictures.

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

The free-throw lane, construed with the.

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.

Paintballs.

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.

A face card (king, queen, or jack).

Paint that provides a hard glossy transparent coating

Graphics drawn using an input device, not scanned or generated.

Cover with varnish

(uncountable) Makeup.

Tattoo work.

(dated) Any substance fixed with latex to harden it.

The appearance of an object on a radar screen.

(transitive) To apply paint to.

(transitive) To apply in the manner that paint is applied.

To apply with a brush in order to treat some body part.

(transitive) To cover (something) with spots of colour, like paint.

(transitive) To create (an image) with paints.

(intransitive) To practise the art of painting pictures.

To draw an element in a graphical user interface.

To depict or portray.

(intransitive) To color one's face by way of beautifying it.

To direct a radar beam toward.

To cover with coloring matter; to apply paint to; as, to paint a house, a signboard, etc.

To color, stain, or tinge; to adorn or beautify with colors; to diversify with colors.

To form in colors a figure or likeness of on a flat surface, as upon canvas; to represent by means of colors or hues; to exhibit in a tinted image; to portray with paints; as, to paint a portrait or a landscape.

To represent or exhibit to the mind; to describe vividly; to delineate; to image; to depict; as, to paint a political opponent as a traitor.

To practice the art of painting; as, the artist paints well.

To color one's face by way of beautifying it.

A pigment or coloring substance.

A cosmetic; rouge.

A substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid); dries to form a hard coating

(basketball) a space (including the foul line) in front of the basket at each end of a basketball court; usually painted a different color from the rest of the court;

Makeup consisting of a pink or red powder applied to the cheeks

Make a painting;

Apply paint to; coat with paint;

Make a painting of;

Apply a liquid to; e.g., paint the gutters with linseed oil