noun

lacquer

LAK-uh

noun

A glossy protective coating applied to wood, metal, or nails to give a hard, shiny finish.

"The table was finished with several coats of clear lacquer."

verb

To coat something with lacquer to give it a smooth, glossy surface.

"The carpenter lacquered the cabinet to protect the wood."

How to Use Lacquer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA glossy coating used to protect and shine surfaces like wood, metal, or nails.

Common pairings

clear lacquer coat of lacquer nail lacquer

lacquered past tense, lacquers plural, lacquers singular

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The table was finished with several coats of clear _____.

From French lacque, from Portuguese laca, tracing back to Sanskrit lākṣā — a doublet of "lac."

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