lacquer
LAK-uhr
/ˈlækər/
A liquid preparation applied to nails or wood that dries to form a hard, glossy, protective coating.
In cosmetics, 'lacquer' is often used interchangeably with 'polish' or 'varnish', but it typically implies a high-gloss, professional-grade formula.
The story behind the word. The word lacquer is derived from the Portuguese 'laca', which comes from the Arabic 'lakk' and Sanskrit 'laksha', meaning 'one hundred thousand'. This refers to the massive swarms of tiny lac insects whose resinous secretions were harvested to make early varnishes and shellacs.
Word relationships
- polish: Polish is the common, everyday term for nail color, while lacquer is a more formal or professional term implying a high-gloss finish.
- varnish: Varnish is more commonly used for wood finishes, whereas lacquer is used for both wood and high-end cosmetics.
Commonly confused with
- acrylic: Lacquer is a liquid coating that dries by evaporation, while acrylic is a chemical mixture that hardens into a solid plastic extension.
Word family
- lacquered (adjective): Coated with lacquer; glossy and smooth.
- lacquering (noun): The act or process of applying lacquer.
Collocations
- nail lacquer
- glossy lacquer
- apply lacquer
- crimson lacquer
Example sentences
- "The rich crimson lacquer dried quickly, leaving her nails with a brilliant, glass-like shine." A historical review of cosmetic trends.
Memory hook
LAcquer makes your nails look like a shiny, glossy LAKe. High-gloss nail polish.
When not to use
Do not use 'lacquer' to describe matte or non-glossy nail treatments unless you specify that a matte top coat was used.
Fun facts
- The ancient Chinese used natural lacquer harvested from the sap of the lacquer tree to create beautiful, durable art pieces over 3,000 years ago.
- Modern nail lacquers are formulated with nitrocellulose, a highly flammable compound also used in making gunpowder.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.