shellac
or shel·lack
[ shuh-lak ]
/ ʃəˈlæk /
noun
lac that has been purified and formed into thin sheets, used for making varnish.
a varnish (shellac varnish) made by dissolving this material in alcohol or a similar solvent.
a phonograph record made of a breakable material containing shellac, especially one to be played at 78 r.p.m.: an LP that can hold nearly 10 times as much as the old shellac.
verb (used with object), shel·lacked, shel·lack·ing.
to coat or treat with shellac.
Slang.
- to defeat; trounce.
- to thrash soundly.
Words nearby shellac
shell star,
shell steak,
shell suit,
shell-like,
shell-shocked,
shellac,
shellacking,
shellback,
shellbark,
shellcracker,
shelled
Example sentences from the Web for shellac
British Dictionary definitions for shellac
shellac
/ (ʃəˈlæk, ˈʃɛlæk) /
noun
a yellowish resin secreted by the lac insect, esp a commercial preparation of this used in varnishes, polishes, and leather dressings
Also called: shellac varnish
a varnish made by dissolving shellac in ethanol or a similar solvent
a gramophone record based on shellac
verb -lacs, -lacking or -lacked (tr)
to coat or treat (an article) with a shellac varnish
US slang
to defeat completely
Derived forms of shellac
shellacker, nounWord Origin for shellac
C18:
shell +
lac
1, translation of French
laque en écailles, literally: lac in scales, that is, in thin plates