lac

¹

[ lak ]

noun

1. a resinous substance deposited on the twigs of various trees in southern Asia by the female of the lac insect: used in the manufacture of varnishes, sealing wax, etc., and in the production of a red coloring matter. Compare shellac ( def 1 ).

lac

²

[ lahk ]

noun

1. lakh.

lac

³

[ lak ]

noun

1. (in prescriptions) milk.

LAC

⁴

1. leading aircraftsman.

LAC

¹

abbreviation for

1. leading aircraftman

lac

²

/ læk /

noun

1. a resinous substance secreted by certain lac insects, used in the manufacture of shellac

lac

³

/ lɑːk /

noun

1. a variant spelling of lakh

Word History and Origins

Origin of lac¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English lacca, from Dutch lak or French lac, laque, from Old French lacce, lache, from Medieval Latin lac, lacca, from Arabic lakk, from Persian lak, from Hindi lākh, from Prakrit lākkhā, from Sanskrit lākṣā

Origin of lac²

From Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of lac¹

C16: from Dutch lak or French laque, from Hindi lākh resin, ultimately from Sanskrit lākshā

Example Sentences

Throughout my weeklong Tet celebration, I look forward to munching on keo lac vung, a fragrant crunchy peanut and sesame candy.

From New York Times

Fond du lac fire officials say one of the nine has life-threatening injuries.

From Seattle Times

And we found it: a tiny wasp known as Tachardiaephagus somervillei, which attacks the yellow lac scale insect in its native Southeast Asia.

From The Guardian

Nine months ago I wrote that RIM’s problem lay in its lac of strategic options.

From Forbes

But India's public men, with pride, In Princes such as these, Will find their "lack of pence" supplied By—a lac of rupees!

From Project Gutenberg