shellac

noun

shel·lac | \ shə-ˈlak

Definition of shellac

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

3a : a composition containing shellac formerly used for making phonograph records

b : an old 78 rpm phonograph record

shellac

verb

shellacked; shellacking

Definition of shellac (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to coat or otherwise treat with shellac or a shellac varnish

2 : to defeat decisively

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about shellac

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of shellac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Shifts in format — from wax cylinders to shellac discs to LPs to CDs and MP3s and now streaming — arrive periodically to transform the record trade. — New York Times, "The Day the Music Burned," 11 June 2019 Methanol is a type of alcohol that's often used as an ingredient in antifreeze, paint thinner, shellac, and windshield wiper fluid, according to MedlinePlus. — Cory Stieg, refinery29.com, "Could Bootleg Alcohol Explain The Dominican Republic Deaths?," 18 June 2019 The site became industrialized with the Lacy Foundry and industries that made shellac and paint. — Jacques Kelly, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore's Harbor Point becomes a Cinderella story for an industrial site people once avoided," 15 June 2019 This contained inorganic pigments in an organic binding medium overlaid by a shellac varnish. — The Economist, "Researchers find a way to use minute samples to detect forged paintings," 8 June 2019 Softer brushes, like this one, are better for stains and clear finishes, like varnish, spar varnish, shellac, and brushing lacquers. — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "The 4 Biggest Painting Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)," 16 Jan. 2019 Pro tip: When playing football, use shellac nail polish. — Jayda Evans, The Seattle Times, "A battle for respect, then in the trenches: For Newport’s Jenna Martz, football is feminism," 26 Oct. 2018 The process was a simple two steps: First came a thick, shellac-like coat of MAC clear Lipglass. — Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, "These Marbleized Lips at Eckhaus Latta Are About to Become an Art-Punk Beauty Obsession," 8 Sep. 2018 Nearly all the best exponents of the Greek Epirotic music, on shellac or in the flesh, are not considered Greek Epirotes by the Greek Epirotes themselves. — Evan Eisenberg, WSJ, "‘Lament From Epirus’ Review: Ode on a Grecian Yearn," 24 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Women’s ice hockey was in jeopardy, too, after Canada shellacked Slovakia 18-0 in its opener at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver (a few months after Slovakia beat Bulgaria 82-0 in Olympic qualifying). — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: For U.S. women’s soccer team, problem is less the 13 goals than the 13 celebrations," 12 June 2019 But then there is what has transpired for the last three days at T-Mobile Park, including Saturday night’s embarrassing 18-4 shellacking imposed on the Mariners by the Twins. — Ryan Divish, The Seattle Times, "How low can they go? Mariners embarrassed by Minnesota in 18-4 shellacking," 19 May 2019 Missing this lesson: Mary Barra at General Motors , who’s getting shellacked for closing U.S. factories. — Andy Kessler, WSJ, "Where in the World Is Larry Page?," 30 Dec. 2018 Lou Barletta, who has built a career on immigration hawkery, got shellacked in Pennsylvania. — Dara Lind, Vox, "Trumpism doesn’t win majorities. And Trump doesn’t care.," 7 Nov. 2018 Clinton got shellacked, losing the House for the Democrats for the first time since Harry Truman was in office. — Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, "A quick game of quarters," 27 July 2018 What about someone who retired in 2000 and began withdrawing capital after the market got shellacked? — Barry Ritholtz, latimes.com, "Ranking the factors that help or hurt your investment returns," 14 June 2018 Despite being shellacked last week by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, de León managed to hang on to second place and a spot on the November ballot. — John Wildermuth, San Francisco Chronicle, "Bad news comes in bunches for Kevin de León: Key lawmaker backs Feinstein," 12 June 2018 Not the kind with bespoke suits and parted, shellacked hair; the kind with his sleeves rolled up, and a pair of beat-up beige sneakers on his feet. — Issie Lapowsky, WIRED, "Tusks, Horns, and Claws: The Fight to Dismantle the Facebook Animal Parts Bazaar," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shellac.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.