Laminate is a term used to describe a material that is made up of different layers of material fused together. Some synonyms for laminate include veneer, overlay, coating, surfacing and cladding. Veneer specifically refers to a thin layer of wood or other decorative covering applied to a surface. An overlay refers to a surface treatment or covering applied to an existing surface. Coating and surfacing both refer to the application of a layer of material over a surface to improve its appearance or performance. Cladding refers to the use of a protective layer or covering to protect a structure from the elements. All of these terms are used to describe materials that have been laminated together into a composite material.