: a resinous substance secreted by a scale insect (Laccifer lacca) and used chiefly in the form of shellac

Examples of lac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web 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. Alice Bell, CNN, 5 Nov. 2019 And the red paint in the upper layers of the painting bears the chemical signature of red lac (or red lake), a dye made from the laccaic acid found in parts of plants or insects. Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 11 Dec. 2018 The most common species is perch, often served as filets de perche du lac Léman, or Lake Geneva perch filets. Jake Emen, USA TODAY, 21 Aug. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lac.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Persian lak & Hindi & Urdu lākh, from Sanskrit lākṣā

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lac was in 1657

Dictionary Entries Near lac

Cite this Entry

“Lac.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lac. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lac

noun
: a substance given off by a scale insect and used in the manufacture of shellac, lacquers, and sealing wax

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