First Known Use: 1704
Dictionary
1shellac
noun shel·lac \shə-ˈlak\
: a clear liquid that dries into a hard coating and that is put on a surface to protect it
Full Definition of SHELLAC
1
: purified lac usually prepared in thin orange or yellow flakes by heating and filtering and often bleached white
2
: a preparation of lac dissolved usually in alcohol and used chiefly as a wood filler and finish
3
a : a composition containing shellac formerly used for making phonograph records b : an old 78 rpm phonograph record
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Origin of SHELLAC
1shell + lac
Rhymes with SHELLAC
aback, ack-ack, alack, amtrac, Anzac, arrack, attack, backpack, backtrack, Balzac, bareback, blackjack, blowback, bootblack, bootjack, brushback, bushwhack, buyback, callback, calpac, carjack, champac, cheapjack, coatrack, come back, comeback, cookshack, crackback, crookback, cut back, cutback, Dayak, dieback, Dirac, draw back, drawback, fall back, fallback, fastback, fast-track, fatback, feedback, finback, fireback, flapjack, flashback, fullback, gimcrack, giveback, graywacke, greenback, gripsack, guaiac, halfback, half-track, hardback, hardhack, hardtack, hatchback, hayrack, haystack, hijack, hogback, hold back, holdback, hopsack, horseback, humpback, hunchback, Iraq, jam-pack, jet-black, Kanak, Karnak, kayak, Kazak, kickback, knapsack, knickknack, kulak, kyack, laid-back, lampblack, leaseback, linac, macaque, man jack, manpack, Micmac, mossback, muntjac, Muzak, notchback, offtrack, one-track, outback, packsack, payback, pitch-black, play back, playback, plow back, plowback, Prozac, pullback, quillback, racetrack, ransack, rickrack, roll back, rollback, roorback, rucksack, runback, sad sack, scatback, serac, set back, setback, shellback, shoeblack, shoepac, sidetrack, six-pack, skewback, skipjack, skyjack, slapjack, slotback, Slovak, smokejack, smokestack, snap back, snapback, snowpack, softback, sumac, swayback, sweepback, swept-back, switchback, tailback, tarmac, thornback, throw back, throwback, thumbtack, ticktack, tieback, tie tack, tombac, touchback, tow sack, trictrac, tripack, unpack, wetback, whaleback, wingback, wisecrack, wolf pack, woolpack, woolsack, yashmak, zwieback
2shellac
transitive verb
: to coat (something) with shellac
: to defeat (a person or team) easily and completely
shel·lackedshel·lack·ing
Full Definition of SHELLAC
1
: to coat or otherwise treat with shellac or a shellac varnish
2
: to defeat decisively
First Known Use of SHELLAC
1876
SHELLAC Defined for Kids
1shellac
noun shel·lac \shə-ˈlak\
Definition of SHELLAC for Kids
: a varnish made from a material that is given off by an insect and that is dissolved usually in alcohol
2shellac
verb
shel·lackedshel·lack·ing
Definition of SHELLAC for Kids
: to coat with shellac
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