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Definition of lacquer

lacquer

/ˈlæk.ər/
lac · quer

Plural:lacquers
•
Adjective:lacquered
•
Past Simple:lacquered
•
Past Participle:lacquered
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Present Participle:lacquering
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lacquer Lexical Profile

lacquer Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A liquid substance, often made from shellac or synthetic resins, that dries to form a hard, protective, and often glossy coating on wood, metal, or other materials.

Example

"The artisan applied multiple coats of clear lacquer to protect the surface of the wooden table."


2

Decorative objects or wares made of wood and heavily coated with a glossy, resinous varnish, originally characteristic of East Asian art.

Example

"The museum's collection features exquisite Japanese lacquer from the Edo period."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for lacquer

• verb

1

To apply a hard, glossy coating of varnish to a surface for protection or decoration.

Example

"She carefully lacquered the jewelry box to give it a brilliant, durable shine."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for lacquer

• Rhymes for lacquer

Word Origin & Etymology

From French 'lacre' (a kind of sealing wax), derived from Portuguese 'lacre', which ultimately comes from Hindi 'lākh' (lac), referring to the resinous secretion of the lac insect.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lacquer. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lacquer
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