any of various hard, durable, black varnishes, originally from Japan, for coating wood, metal, or other surfaces.
work varnished and figured in the Japanese manner.
Japans, a variety of decorative motifs or patterns derived from Asian sources, used on English porcelain of the 18th and 19th centuries.
to varnish with japan; lacquer.
to coat with any material that gives a hard, black gloss.
Japanese Nihon, Nippon. a constitutional monarchy on a chain of islands off the eastern coast of Asia: main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. 141,529 sq. mi. (366,560 sq. km). Tokyo.
Sea of Japan, a marginal sea bounded by North Korea, the Far Eastern mainland of Russia, the Russian island Sakhalin, Japan, and South Korea: largely enclosed from the Pacific Ocean and seldom affected by tides.
a glossy durable black lacquer originally from the Orient, used on wood, metal, etc
work decorated and varnished in the Japanese manner
a liquid used as a paint drier
Although a world leader in shipbuilding, electronics, and automobile manufacture, Japan's economy suffered a severe slump during the 1990s.
Called the “Land of the Rising Sun,” Japan is symbolized by a red sun on a white background.
Japan's ports were first opened to Western traders in the sixteenth century but were closed in the seventeenth century. Japan remained in virtual isolation until the 1850s, when an American naval officer, Matthew C. Perry, persuaded the government to reopen trade with the West.
Another symbol (see also symbol) of Japan is Fujiyama, also called Mount Fuji, a volcano whose symmetrical snow-capped peak has been the object of countless pilgrimages, poems, and paintings. It has not erupted since 1707.
Suffering from overcrowding, lack of natural resources, and the influence of powerful military factions, Japan pursued an aggressive policy of expansion in China during the 1930s, ultimately resulting in a military alliance with Germany and Italy to form the Axis powers in World War II. (See also Hiroshima (see also Hiroshima), Pearl Harbor, and Douglas MacArthur.)
Imperial Japan was organized on a feudal system (see feudalism), characterized by the samurai (the warrior class, which eventually became landed gentry) and the shogun (the hereditary administrative leader). The emperor, believed to be divine, was the ceremonial leader. Japan is a constitutional monarchy today.
First recorded in 1605–15; special use of Japan
First recorded in 1570–80 as Giapan; from Malay Jăpung, Japang, from Middle Chinese; see origin at Nippon ( def. )
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Shame on anyone who shall try to shame them for that and deny them basic rights. tpng813 Just like how japan denies its massive massacres across china.
From Time ● Aug. 13, 2013
She said that "them she bought of tin-peddlers wuzn't worth a cent—the japan all wore off of 'em."
From Samantha at the World's Fair by Grimm, Baron C. de
The walls, highly painted and glittering with japan, were hung with Chinese pictures in gilded and japanned frames.
From The War Tiger Or, Adventures and Wonderful Fortunes of the Young Sea Chief and His Lad Chow: A Tale of the Conquest of China by Dalton, William
Fillers consist of silex or of ground earths mixed with oil, japan, and turpentine.
From Handwork in Wood by Noyes, William
Our greatest gratification was at the royal papier maché and japan works of Jennens & Bettridge.
From Young Americans Abroad Vacation in Europe: Travels in England, France, Holland, Belgium, Prussia and Switzerland by Choules, J.O.
Ipswich Town have signed Japan forward Daizen Maeda from Celtic on a three-year contract.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
That investigation into overcapacity concerns was announced in March and is targeting 16 economies, including major trading partners like the European Union, China, Mexico, Japan and India.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
The Bank of England and the Bank of Japan are also scheduled to announce monetary policy decisions in the coming week.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
In the late 1990s, scientists working in the Ajimu area of Oita prefecture, Japan, uncovered three fossilized vertebrae from a giant salamander in the Cryptobranchidae family.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
One month later, on August 24, 1941, they arrived in Japan and went to the monastery, which was run by German monks, to start their jobs on the farm.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
“The hype started in Japan. In Japan there are even cafés where you have contact with capybaras. And the internet helped, and the public is always curious. They want to know about the species.”
From Slate ● May 27, 2026
"This is my love letter to Japan. I really wish one day I can screen my film, and my family can also watch it," she added.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2025
“As it gets closer to the season, I’ll talk to the coaches and fix it. It was the same in Japan. When the season starts, I’ll make those adjustments.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2024
“I am here to reaffirm America’s unwavering commitment to Japan. This includes extended deterrence and provided by the full range of U.S. conventional and nuclear capabilities,” Austin said.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 1, 2023
“I doubt we’re the Japan. It’s impossible that another planet out there doesn’t have better robots than us already.”
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
His sponges were the ordinary reef sponges and these he would rinse in an old japanned basin, changing the water in the basin only when it became too bloody to return the sponges relatively clean.
From Time Magazine Archive
He lighted the shank of candle in the japanned candlestick and regarded the bed—as spineless as a hammock and covered with a dirty patchwork quilt, the cotton batting spilling from the edges.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Enamelled slate would be cheaper and very good, and it would retain its polish better than the Marezzo marble, or japanned metal might answer the purpose pretty well.
From Household Organization by Caddy, Florence
A light blue coat buttoned tightly over his breast, and a pair of close-fitting trousers strapped over his japanned leather boots, completed his remarkable ensemble.
From Gabriel Conroy by Harte, Bert
If made of iron or zinc, they should be well japanned; if of copper, this is not so essential.
From A Treatise on Meteorological Instruments Explanatory of Their Scientific Principles, Method of Construction, and Practical Utility by Negretti, Henry
For some time he earned his living as a writing-master; after which he appears to have gone into the japanning trade, and in 1750 embarked some capital in a letter foundry.
From A Short History of English Printing, 1476-1898 by Pollard, Alfred W. (Alfred William)
Shellac varnish is used for japanning lamps, tea trays, &c.
From A Select Collection of Valuable and Curious Arts and Interesting Experiments, Which are Well Explained and Warranted Genuine and may be Performed Easily, Safely, and at Little Expense. by Unknown, Various
Pigments suitable for japanning with natural lacquer, 45. —— black, 46. —— blue, 46. —— green, 46. —— red, 46. —— white, 45. —— yellow, 46.
From Handbook on Japanning: 2nd Edition For Ironware, Tinware, Wood, Etc. With Sections on Tinplating and Galvanizing by Brown, William N.
Over the ordinary tanning of the sailor, he seemed masked by a visor of japanning, dotted all over with freckles, so intensely yellow, and symmetrically circular, that they seemed scorched there by a burning glass.
From Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. I by Melville, Herman
To make shellac varnish for japanning, 46 47.
From A Select Collection of Valuable and Curious Arts and Interesting Experiments, Which are Well Explained and Warranted Genuine and may be Performed Easily, Safely, and at Little Expense. by Unknown, Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
