varnish tree n large tree native to southeastern Asia; the nuts yield oil used in varnishes; nut kernels strung together are used locally as candles n small Asiatic tree yielding a toxic exudate from which lacquer is obtained Synonym(s) candlenut Aleurites moluccana lacquer tree Chinese lacquer tree Japanese lacquer tree Japanese varnish tree Japanese sumac Toxicodendron vernicifluum Rhus verniciflua