Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
shellac varnish

shellac varnish

8.3
A thin clear or colored coating made from shellac and alcohol to protect and shine wood
  • noun
  • /ʃəˈlæk ˈvɑrnɪʃ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : barniz de goma laca
  • After sanding the table, she applied a coat of shellac varnish for a glossy, protective finish.

Examples

  • The antique dresser was finished with a shellac varnish to highlight its natural wood grain.

  • Artists sometimes use shellac varnish to seal their paintings and add shine.

  • I applied a coat of shellac varnish to the table.

  • The artist prefers using shellac varnish for her paintings.

  • After sanding the table, she applied a coat of shellac varnish for a glossy, protective finish.

  • Artists sometimes use shellac varnish to seal their paintings and add shine.

  • The antique dresser was finished with a shellac varnish to highlight its natural wood grain.

Synonyms

varnish
vsshellac varnish
12 4.4

A clear hard shiny layer put on wood to protect it and make it shine

is the thinner resin-based finish mainly used for wood surfaces
shellac
vsshellac varnish
  • Specialized
4 7.4

A natural hard substance used to make a shiny protective coat on wood or furniture

is the thin product made by dissolving that resin in alcohol
French polish shellac
vsshellac varnish
  • Specialized
8.6

A shiny wood finish you make by mixing shellac with alcohol

is the general thin product from the same resin not focused on gloss
shellacking
vsshellac varnish
  • Specialized
8.0

A shiny layer of shellac applied to wood to protect it

is the thin product made by dissolving that resin in alcohol
French polish
vsshellac varnish
  • Specialized
7.0

A very shiny finish you make on wood by rubbing on thin coats of shellac mixed with alcohol

is the general thin finish made from that resin without extra gloss
varnishing
vsshellac varnish
4.1

To put a clear shiny protective coat on wood or the coat left on a surface

is the specific thin product made from dissolving that resin in alcohol

Surface Forms

shellac varnish singular
shellac varnishes plural

Morphology

shellac + varnish

This is a compositional noun–noun compound: the meaning is simply a type of varnish made from shellac. If a B1 learner knows the constituent words 'shellac' and 'varnish', the relation (varnish composed of shellac) is directly derivable and cross-linguistically transparent.

Etymology

Shellac varnish comes from a natural, shiny material called shellac, made when tiny insects cover tree branches with a sticky substance that dries into hard flakes. Those flakes are mixed with alcohol to make a clear varnish that gives wood a glossy protective finish, so the name links the insect material (shellac) to the finish we use on furniture.