shellac
or shel·lack
lac that has been purified and formed into thin sheets, used for making varnish (shellac varnish ) by dissolving it in alcohol or a similar solvent.
formerly, a phonograph record made of a breakable material containing shellac, especially one to be played at 78 r.p.m.: In the antique shop I found a stack of old shellacs with recordings of great wartime classics.
to coat or treat with shellac.
Slang.
to defeat; trounce.
to thrash soundly.
Origin of shellac
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use shellac in a sentence
Shellack—my Canton correspondent—a man I was anxious to be of use to when he came over!
Vice Versa | F. Anstey
British Dictionary definitions for shellac
/ (ʃəˈlæk, ˈʃɛlæk) /
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
to coat or treat (an article) with a shellac varnish
US slang to defeat completely
Origin of shellac
1Derived forms of shellac
- shellacker, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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