lac
C2Technical/Specialized, Historical, Commercial
Definition
Meaning
A resinous substance secreted by certain scale insects, used to make shellac and other products.
Can also refer to the insects that produce the substance, or to shellac itself. In a historical/commercial context, it denotes a valuable commodity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A technical term largely confined to specific fields like entomology, varnish/coating manufacture, and historical trade. In everyday language, 'shellac' is far more common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally specialized in both variants.
Connotations
Neutral technical/historical term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general corpora for both, with slight historical predominance in UK English texts on the British Empire trade.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Noun: lac (U)Noun modifier: lac + noun (e.g., lac insect, lac production)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word does not form idiomatic expressions.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used historically and in niche sectors (e.g., specialty varnish trade).
Academic
Used in entomology, materials science, and historical studies of trade.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Primary domain; precise term in coatings, adhesives, and insect biology.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This old box is coated with lac.
- The artisan used natural lac to protect the wood.
- Shellac is derived from lac, a resin secreted by insects native to India and Thailand.
- Historical records detail the lucrative trade in lac, which was harvested, processed into stick lac, and exported for making varnishes and dyes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of LACquer – LAC is the natural, raw material used to make shellac and some traditional lacquers.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable; a concrete, referential term.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'лак' (lak), which is the general word for 'varnish' or 'lacquer'. Russian 'лак' is the final product; English 'lac' is the raw material.
- Do not confuse with 'lack' (недостаток).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'lack'.
- Using 'lac' to mean varnish in a general, modern context (use 'shellac' or 'lacquer' instead).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'lac' primarily?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Lac is the raw resinous secretion. Shellac is the refined and processed form of lac, ready for use as a coating.
No, it is a highly specialized term. The more common related word is 'shellac'.
No, 'lac' is solely a noun. The verb forms are 'shellac' or 'lacquer'.
Historically and primarily in India and Southeast Asia, where the specific lac insects (Kerria lacca) are found on host trees.