japan

1 of 4

adjective

ja·​pan jə-ˈpan 

: of, relating to, or originating in Japan : of a kind or style characteristic of Japanese workmanship

japan

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

a

: any of several varnishes yielding a hard brilliant finish

b

: a hard dark coating containing asphalt and a drier that is used especially on metal and fixed by heating

called also japan black

2

: work (such as lacquerware) finished and decorated in the Japanese manner

japan

3 of 4

verb

japanned; japanning

transitive verb

1

: to cover with or as if with a coat of japan

2

: to give a high gloss to

japanner noun

japanner

4 of 4

noun (2)

ja·​pan·​ner

jə̇ˈpanə(r), 

-paan- also jaˈp-

plural -s

1

usually capitalized, obsolete

a

: japanese

b

: a Japanese ship

2

[japan entry 3 + -er] : a worker who applies coatings of enamel or varnish in making japanned leather or other japanned articles

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Japan + -er

First Known Use

Adjective

1673, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for japan

• afghan
• bedpan
• began
• caveman
• chapin
• cyan
• deadpan
• dextran
• divan
• doorman
• fishman
• flagman

Geographical Definition

Japan

geographical name

Ja·​pan jə-ˈpan 

ja-

variants or Japanese Nippon

ni-ˈpän 

nē-ˈpȯⁿ

or Nihon

nē-ˈhȯn 

country in eastern Asia comprising Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku, and other islands in the western Pacific; a constitutional monarchy; capital Tokyo area 145,914 square miles (377,915 square kilometers), population 126,168,000

see also:

japanese