shellac: Meaning and Definition of

shel•lac

Pronunciation: (shu-lak'), [key]
— n., v., -lacked, -lack•ing.
—n.
  1. lac that has been purified and formed into thin sheets, used for making varnish.
  2. a varnish made by dissolving this material in alcohol or a similar solvent.
  3. a phonograph record made of a breakable material containing shellac, esp. one to be played at 78 r.p.m.: an LP that can hold nearly 10 times as much as the old shellac.
—v.t.
  1. to coat or treat with shellac.
    1. to defeat; trounce.
    2. to thrash soundly.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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