veneer
[noun]
Synonyms: mask, appearance, façade, front, guise, pretence, semblance, show

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

ve‧neer /vəˈnɪə, vɪˈnɪə $ -ˈnɪr/ noun
[Date: 1700-1800; Language: German; Origin: furnier, from furnieren 'to veneer', from French fournir; ⇒ furnish]

1. [uncountable and countable] a thin layer of wood or plastic that covers the surface of a piece of furniture made of cheaper material, to make it look better
walnut/maple/oak etc veneer

2. a veneer of politeness/sophistication etc formal behaviour that hides someone’s real character or feelings:
A thin veneer of politeness hid Lady Bride’s growing anger.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

veneer
noun
ADJ. thin | false | civilized
VERB + VENEER acquire | strip (off), strip sb/sth of They have stripped the veneer of jingoism from the play, by showing war in its true horror.
VENEER + VERB disguise sth, hide sth, mask sth He managed to acquire a thin veneer of knowledge to mask his real ignorance.
crack For the first time her veneer of politeness began to crack.
PREP. behind/below/beneath/under a/the ~ They're brutal people behind their civilized veneer.
~ of

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲