/ver'neuh sahzh"/ ; Fr. /verdd nee sannzh"/ , n. , pl. vernissages /-sah"zhiz/ ; Fr. /-sannzh"/ .
1. Also called varnishing day . the day before the opening of an art exhibition traditionally reserved for the artist to varnish the paintings.
2. a reception at a gallery for an artist whose show is about to open to the public.
[ 1910-15; ]