Pronunciations (4)
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/ʃəˈlæk/
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/ʃɛˈlæk/
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/ˈʃɛlæk/
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ʃəˈlæk
Noun
A processed secretion of the lac insect, Coccus lacca; used in polishes, varnishes etc.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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But, she says, a wartime ban on recordings using shellac and vinyl kept the Walker version from being released.
More examples (1)
At the turn of the century, the ever-expanding electrical industry was running low on shellac, a resin secreted by the female lac bug which could be used as an insulating material.
A beating; a thrashing.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Informal
- Uncountable
Verb
To coat with shellac.
Usage- Transitive
To beat; to thrash.
Usage- US usage
- Informal
- Transitive
To inflict a heavy defeat upon.
Usage- US usage
- Informal
- Transitive
- Examples
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In 1964 Goldwater ran rambunctiously, flat-out against government. He got shellacked.
In another the Mets were shellacked, 9-1, with a stray ninth-inning home run by Strawberry after two outs, preventing a shutout.
More examples (1)
[Former Arizona GOP Senator Jeff Flake] warns Republicans could be on track for a shellacking in the midterms[.]
Noun
lac purified by heating and filtering; usually in thin orange or yellow flakes but sometimes bleached white
- Broader terms
a thin varnish made by dissolving lac in ethanol; used to finish wood
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
Verb
cover with shellac
- Synonyms
- Examples
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She wanted to shellac the desk to protect it from water spots