to japan
- verb
- /dʒəˈpæn/
- Archaic
- The craftsmen japaned the beautiful vases to give them a shiny, protective coat.
Examples
-
He skillfully japanned the wooden box, making its surface smooth and reflective.
-
WELL, FIRST I THINK SHE WENT TO JAPAN, AND THEN TO ALGIERS.
-
After applying the japan finish, the furniture had a rich, lustrous appearance.
Synonyms
To cover a surface with a smooth shiny liquid that dries hard, for example on food or pottery
To cover something with a hard shiny coating to protect it and make it shine
To cover a surface with a hard shiny layer for protection or decoration
Cover something with a shiny protective finish made from a natural hard substance
To make a surface smooth and shiny by rubbing or polishing
To put a hard shiny coat on metal or wood
Compounds
- Specialized
A climbing Asian vine with bright orange berries often grown in gardens
- Specialized
A tall tree from Japan and China with soft, strong wood used for furniture and building
- Specialized
A warm ocean current that flows northeast from the coast of Japan into the northern Pacific
- Archaic
A yellowish wax from the berries of some sumac trees used in polishes and candles
A day marking the end of fighting between Japan and other countries in World War II
How Glossy
Surface Forms
Etymology
The verb japan comes from the same idea: it means to cover an object with the glossy lacquer first made in Japan, so to japan something is to 'coat' it with a hard, shiny finish.