japan
noun
any of various hard, durable, black varnishes, originally from Japan, for coating wood, metal, or other surfaces.
Showing results for japan.
Search instead for
japanning.
japan
1 American
[juh-pan]
/ dʒəˈpæn /
noun
-
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.
adjective
verb (used with object)
japanned,
japanning
-
to varnish with japan; lacquer.
-
to coat with any material that gives a hard, black gloss.
Japan
2
American
[juh-pan]
/ dʒəˈpæn /
noun
-
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.
Japan.
3
American
abbreviation
Japan
1
British
/ dʒəˈpæn /
noun
japan
2
British
/ dʒəˈpæn /
noun
-
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
adjective
verb
Japan
Cultural
Discover More
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of japan1
First recorded in 1605–15; special use of Japan
Origin of Japan2
First recorded in 1570–80 as Giapan; from Malay Jăpung, Japang, from Middle Chinese; see origin at Nippon ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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
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 William Dalton
They are japan to Japan, Sweet-meets to Sweet-meats, sollicit to solicit, and hugy to hugely.
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 Baron C. de Grimm
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 J.O. Choules
Japan Tobacco said Friday that four of the group's manufacturing subsidiaries had been placed under temporary control and it was assessing "possible actions".
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
Japan Tobacco has conducted business operations in Russia in compliance with regulations and sanctions, it said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Japan, which has a decades-old dispute with Moscow over a string of islands in the Pacific, has joined in some sanctions against Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
Hisaishi lives in his native Japan, and Harding resides in Paris.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
The last time anyone had heard a word from him was when he was in Japan.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
“They wanted a little bit of help. And we’re always there for Japan. Japan’s been very good to us, with the exception, of course, of Pearl Harbor.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
“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
"We've dealt with Japan. I'm not sure we're going to make a deal. I doubt it," he told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2025
“This is a different place, but I tried to do what I did when I pitched in Japan. I tried to recreate the feelings I had when I pitched really well and went in relaxed.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2024
“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
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 Henry Negretti
It was an old, battered, black japanned receptacle without a lock, and only secured against accidental opening by a wooden peg inserted through the catch.
From Betty Grier by Joseph Laing Waugh
One was of nickel or silver; the other, a trifle larger, appeared, as Grindley lifted it out, to be an ordinary japanned cash-box, with the key sticking in the lock.
From The Messenger by Elizabeth Robins
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 William N. Brown
Those Birmingham manufacturers who were the first to practise japanning only on metals on which there was no need for a priming coat did not of course adopt such a practice.
From Handbook on Japanning: 2nd Edition For Ironware, Tinware, Wood, Etc. With Sections on Tinplating and Galvanizing by William N. Brown
Stoves heated by direct fire.—These were, of course, the form in which japanning ovens were constructed somewhat after the style of a drying kiln.
From Handbook on Japanning: 2nd Edition For Ironware, Tinware, Wood, Etc. With Sections on Tinplating and Galvanizing by William N. Brown
Dick interposed with a question as to the process, aim, and object of japanning, but Mr Button passed the question by.
From The Blue Lagoon: a romance by H. De Vere (Henry De Vere) Stacpoole
When white or other light tones are used for japanning they are mixed with japanners' varnish, and these require more careful heating in the oven or stove than darker tints or brown or black.
From Handbook on Japanning: 2nd Edition For Ironware, Tinware, Wood, Etc. With Sections on Tinplating and Galvanizing by William N. Brown
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
