lacquer

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A glossy, resinous material used as a surface coating; either a natural exudation of certain trees, or a solution of nitrocellulose in alcohol, etc.

   “Had he deemed it "wisest, best," Mr. O'Donagough was not without the means of furnishing a splendid mansion in very showy style, and yet not leaving a single morsel of lacker, or or-molu, unpaid for.”

   “It is a solvent for nitrocellulose and vinyl chloride-acetate resins and may function as an antiblush agent in lacquers.”

   “Cellosolves are used as solvents for lacquers, for sealing cellophane wrapping, and in hydraulic-brake fluid.”

   “In place of traditional methods in which materials such as gesso, yellow ocher, powdered earth, liquid glue, and Japan tallow were used to obtain a gloss, and transparent lacquer was rubbed into the wood to protect it, materials such as artificially produced varoids and lacquer came into widespread use.”

verb

1. To apply a lacquer to something or to give something a smooth, glossy finish.