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
One-half pint japan added to gallon of paint.
From Paint Technology and Tests by Gardner, Henry A.
A convenient form in which to handle these pigments is Devoe's "coach colors," ground in japan.
From Handwork in Wood by Noyes, William
I remember especially admiring the basins, jugs, &c., which were all of the finest japan enamel.
From Personal Recollections, from Early Life to Old Age, of Mary Somerville by Somerville, Mary
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
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
"I'm delighted that this study has highlighted Japan as a crucial region for understanding their evolutionary history."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
China, Japan, South Korea and dozens of others were deemed to deserve the higher 12.5 percent tariff.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Navy aircraft carrier more than 1,092 feet long and carrying about 3,200 crew members, it had been on its way to South Korea to participate in naval maneuvers when the earthquake hit Japan.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
“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
“My ex-husband was a Chicano activist … I have other family members that are married to people from the Philippines, Korea, Japan. I have a Greek side to my family.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2025
"Even if it's more of self-preservation than human rights for sponsors, this is a turning point for the MeToo movement in Japan. It's up to us how big we make it," she told the BBC.
From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2025
“I took the risk of coming over here to play instead of just playing in Japan. To achieve this goal is great. Now I’d like to finish off strong in the last three.”
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 29, 2023
“A boy should not lose his baseball jacket. We like baseball very much in Japan. There is no baseball during war. Everybody miss it.”
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
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
Six champagne bottles.—These are not quite so substantial as they look, being merely half-bottles in thin metal, japanned black, and decorated with labels taken from the genuine article.
From Magic In which are given clear and concise explanations of all the well-known illusions as well as many new ones. by Stanton, Ellis
Japan, ja-pan′, v.t. to varnish after the manner of the Japanese′, or people of Japan: to make black and glossy:—pr.p. japan′ning; pa.p. japanned′.—n. work japanned: the varnish or lacquer used in japanning.—ns.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
With all these insects japanned or silvered pins should be used, or when not too large the insects should be mounted on triangles.
From Directions for Collecting and Preserving Insects by Riley, C. V.
E Enamelling and japanning stoves, 29-46. —— —— —— —— heated by direct fire, 34. —— —— —— —— heated by hot-water pipes, 36. —— or japanning metals, 20-28. —— old work, 27.
From Handbook on Japanning: 2nd Edition For Ironware, Tinware, Wood, Etc. With Sections on Tinplating and Galvanizing by Brown, William N.
Varnishing is the last and the finishing process in japanning.
From Handbook on Japanning: 2nd Edition For Ironware, Tinware, Wood, Etc. With Sections on Tinplating and Galvanizing by Brown, William N.
Hence Birmingham japanned goods wear better than those goods which receive a priming previous to japanning.
From Handbook on Japanning: 2nd Edition For Ironware, Tinware, Wood, Etc. With Sections on Tinplating and Galvanizing by Brown, William N.
With these you may match almost any colour in general use in japanning.
From Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets by Young, Daniel
Pianos, cradles, arm-chairs, indeed complete drawing-room suites, cornices, door-plates, and a variety of ornaments are displayed, in addition to the tea-trays and tea-chests in which the art of japanning first became known to us.
From Rides on Railways by Sidney, Samuel
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.
