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
shellacked; shellacking
1
: to coat or otherwise treat with shellac or a shellac varnish
2
: to defeat decisively
Synonyms of shellac
Examples of shellac in a Sentence
Verb
the local football team was shellacked 35-0 in their final outing for the season
Recent Examples on the Web
Greta Cross, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
But the biggest lift was the restoration of the wood throughout the house — a job that started by stripping every inch, then adding coats of shellac.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 7 Oct. 2025
Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
And it certainly can be noticed, both in its abundance, and in the case of the Warriors’ 129-104 shellacking on Friday night at the hands of the Nuggets in an Emirates Cup group stage matchup, in its absence.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shellac
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Noun
Confectioner's glaze, also known as shellac, can be made from lac-resin — a waxy, waterproof coating that the female lac bug produces for protection.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
But the biggest lift was the restoration of the wood throughout the house — a job that started by stripping every inch, then adding coats of shellac.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
Zverev has intermittently heeded the advice, but his last match before the start of the Tour Finals ended in a 6-0, 6-1 shellacking by Sinner, aggravated by swelling in his right ankle.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
And it certainly can be noticed, both in its abundance, and in the case of the Warriors’ 129-104 shellacking on Friday night at the hands of the Nuggets in an Emirates Cup group stage matchup, in its absence.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shellac
Cite this Entry
“Shellac.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shellac. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shellac
1 of 2 noun
shel·lac
shə-ˈlak 
1
: purified lac
2
: a preparation of lac dissolved in alcohol and used as a wood filler or finish
shellac
2 of 2 verb
shellacked; shellacking
: to coat or treat with shellac
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