English Reference

Word

lacquer

Phoneticslac·quer

US/ˈɫækɝ/

UK/lˈækɐ/

Definition

n. a hard, shiny liquid that you paint on wood or metal to make it look beautiful and protect it from damage.

n. a clear, hard, glossy finish applied to surfaces to provide a protective layer and enhance appearance. Often used in the context of furniture, musical instruments, and decorative arts.

Examples

“The old table has a beautiful, dark lacquer finish.”

“The craftsman applied several thin coats of lacquer to the guitar to ensure it was both waterproof and scratch-resistant.”

“Traditional lacquerware requires the application of multiple layers of natural resin, which is then polished to a mirror-like sheen that can last for centuries.”

Examples

simple

“The old table has a beautiful, dark lacquer finish.”

contextual

“The craftsman applied several thin coats of lacquer to the guitar to ensure it was both waterproof and scratch-resistant.”

complex

“Traditional lacquerware requires the application of multiple layers of natural resin, which is then polished to a mirror-like sheen that can last for centuries.”

Real-World Examples

“And the red at-home nail lacquer, released by Revlon in the early 1930s, was a badge of honour for modern women rebelling against that kind of oppressive judgement.”
BBC News · 25 Sept 2026
“Elaborately decorated lacquer food containers were brought to the theatre and other leisure outings such as picnics .”
BBC · 16 Oct 2019

Etymology

Borrowed from French lacque (“a sort of sealing wax”), from Portuguese laca, lacca (“gum lac”), from Persian لاک (lâk), from Hindi लाख (lākh), from Sanskrit लाक्षा (lākṣā). Doublet of lac.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference