Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🪵 A resin 🐞 A scale insect
lak

lak

9.9
A sticky substance from insects used to make shellac and dyes
  • noun
  • Indian
translation icon : laca
  • The craftsman used lak to create a glossy finish on the wooden box.

Examples

  • Collectors value antique furniture coated with natural lak for its rich color.

  • Many artisans use lak for their crafts.

  • Traditional red dye is often made from the resin of lak insects.

  • The lak is harvested from trees.

  • The craftsman used lak to create a glossy finish on the wooden box.

  • Traditional red dye is often made from the resin of lak insects.

  • Collectors value antique furniture coated with natural lak for its rich color.

Synonyms

lac
vslak
  • Specialized
23 9.9

A sticky natural substance made by insects used to make varnish, dyes, and sealing wax

is focused on making shellac and dyes rather than varnishes
seed lac
vslak
  • Specialized
9.9

Small dark pieces made by crushing and washing stick resin, used to make shellac

is the unprocessed insect resin rather than the processed granules
gum-lac
vslak
  • Specialized
9.9

A sticky material that insects make in Madagascar and people use for varnish and dye

is the general insect resin used more widely and for shellac

Compounds

gao lak
  • Philippine
9.9

A snack of roasted chestnuts sold hot at street markets in Vietnam

Surface Forms

lak singular
laks plural

Etymology

Lak comes from India and the Hindi word 'lakh' for the sticky 'resin' used to make shiny coatings; you can see the same source in the words lacquer and shellac. So, lak means the glossy resin used for finishes and natural dyes.