shellac Hear it!

shellac Definition

shel·lac (s̸hə lak′)

noun

  1. refined lac, a resin usually produced in thin, flaky layers or shells and used in making varnish, phonograph records, insulating materials, etc.
  2. a thin, usually clear kind of varnish containing this resin and alcohol

Etymology: shel(l) + lac, used as transl. of Fr laque en écailles, lac in fine sheets

transitive verb -·lacked′, -·lack′·ing

  1. to apply shellac to; cover or varnish with shellac
  2. ☆ Slang
    1. to beat
    2. to defeat decisively

shellac Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • use: Instead, use clear shellac or varnish or several coats of linseed oil.
  • dissolve: In older days, shellac dissolved in alcohol, was used.
  • apply: Why then, did he disregard all of this and apply a heavy coating of shellac applied as one would French Polish.

Adjective modifier

  • clear: Instead, use clear shellac or varnish or several coats of linseed oil.
  • black: The next day a ring of black shellac or gloss paint can be applied.

Modifies a noun

  • disk: Shellac disks ( 78's ) should be dried as quickly as possible to avoid the laminate lifting.
  • record: All this material was issued on 78 rpm shellac records.
  • sealer: Any timber knots should be sealed with a shellac knotting sealer.
  • flake: Take 1 oz of Manila copal crystals and 1/2 oz of orange shellac flakes and grind to a fine powder.
  • 78s: Unbreakable, long lasting and long playing records became very popular and slowly superceded the shellac 78s.
  • knotting: Any timber knots should be sealed with a shellac knotting sealer.

Noun used with modifier

rpm: All this material was issued on 78 rpm shellac records.