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| shel·lac [ shə lák ] or shel·lack [ shə lák ] |
noun (plural shel·lacs) (plural shel·lacks) |
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| Definition: |
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1. purified resin: yellowish orange flakes of a resin lac secreted by a tropical insect
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2. varnish: a thin varnish made of purified lac dissolved in alcohol. Use: formerly, as a coating on wooden items.
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3. 78 rpm phonograph record: an old type of phonograph record originally made from a material containing purified lac, played at 78 rpm
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transitive verb (past and past participle shel·lacked, present participle shel·lack·ing, 3rd person present singular shel·lacs) (past and past participle shel·lacked, present participle shel·lack·ing, 3rd person present singular shel·lacks) |
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| Definition: |
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1. apply shellac to something: to coat something with shellac varnish
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2. hit somebody repeatedly: to beat somebody repeatedly with hard blows
(
slang
)
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3. defeat somebody easily: to defeat somebody easily or decisively
(
slang
)
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| [Mid-17th century. <shell + lac1, after French laque en écailles "lac (melted) in thin plates"] |
