noun Uncommon

lac

lak

Lac (noun) means a resin-like substance secreted by certain scale insects, used to make lacquer and shellac. Example: “Traditional shellac is made by processing raw lac harvested from tree branches.”

noun

A resin-like substance secreted by certain scale insects, used to make lacquer and shellac.

"Traditional shellac is made by processing raw lac harvested from tree branches."

How to use lac

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA natural resin used to make varnish and shellac, harvested from insects on trees.

Common mistake

Not to be confused with "lack" (an absence of something) — they sound identical but are unrelated.

Easily confused with

lack →

Word forms

lacs plural, lacs plural, lacs plural, Lacs plural

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Test yourself on “lac” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Traditional shellac is made by processing raw _____ harvested from tree branches.

Etymology

From Hindi/Urdu lākh, ultimately from Sanskrit lākṣā; a doublet of "lacquer."

Origin: Sanskrit

Frequently asked questions

What does “lac” mean?

The word “lac” means a resin-like substance secreted by certain scale insects, used to make lacquer and shellac. In plain terms, a natural resin used to make varnish and shellac, harvested from insects on trees.

How do you pronounce “lac”?

“Lac” is pronounced lak (/læk/ in IPA).

How do you use “lac” in a sentence?

Here is “lac” used in a sentence: “Traditional shellac is made by processing raw lac harvested from tree branches.”

What part of speech is “lac”?

“Lac” is a noun.

Where does the word “lac” come from?

The word “lac” comes from Sanskrit. From Hindi/Urdu lākh, ultimately from Sanskrit lākṣā; a doublet of "lacquer.".

Is “lac” a common word?

“Lac” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include lac:

Words with Sanskrit origins Words that end with C