Definition

1. Verb:
   • To coat or cover with shellac: The primary meaning is to apply a protective or decorative layer of shellac (a type of resinous varnish) to a surface, typically wood.

Usage

• The verb "shellac" is transitive and requires a direct object (the surface being coated).
• It is often used in contexts of woodworking, furniture finishing, and restoration.
• The past tense and past participle are typically "shellacked."

Examples

• Verb:
  • The artisan will shellac the antique table to restore its original shine.
  • She carefully shellacked the wooden box to seal it.
  • The floors have been shellacked to make them more durable.

Advanced Usage

• Figurative/Informal Use: In very informal contexts, "shellac" can mean to defeat decisively or to beat soundly. However, this is a slang extension and not the primary definition related to coating with varnish.
  • The home team shellacked their rivals with a score of 10-0.

Variants and Related Words

• Shellac (noun): The resinous substance itself, used to make the varnish.
  • He bought a can of shellac from the hardware store.
• Shellacking (noun): The act or process of applying shellac. Informally, it can also mean a severe defeat.
  • The shellacking of the cabinet took three hours. (process)
  • The team suffered a terrible shellacking. (defeat)

Synonyms

• Varnish: To apply a liquid that dries to form a hard, glossy coating.
• Lacquer: To coat with a glossy, often colored, finish.
• Seal: To coat a surface to make it impervious.

Antonyms

• Strip: To remove a coating or finish.
• Sand: To abrade a surface, often in preparation for finishing.

Verb

1. cover with shellac
   • She wanted to shellac the desk to protect it from water spots