what does shellac mean

Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug on trees, primarily in India and Thailand. It is collected and processed into dry flakes, which can then be dissolved in alcohol to create a liquid shellac. This liquid is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze, wood finish, and varnish. Shellac serves various functions including acting as a tough natural primer, sanding sealant, stain, and high-gloss varnish. It was historically used in electrical insulation, phonograph records, and as a protective coating for wood and other materials. In everyday use, shellac appears as thin orange or yellow flakes or sometimes bleached white, and it is applied to surfaces to protect and shine them. It can also refer to a varnish made from this resin dissolved in alcohol. The term "shellac" can also be used as a verb meaning to coat something with shellac or, informally, to defeat decisively. Shellac is notable for being a natural bioadhesive polymer, somewhat like a natural plastic, and has been widely used in wood finishing, food products, nail polish, and historical uses like phonograph records and fossil preservation. In summary, shellac means both the resin material itself and the coating or varnish made from it, with applications in finishing, protection, and decoration of surfaces. It also has informal meaning related to defeating someone soundly. This explanation combines the chemical nature, applications, and linguistic uses of the term "shellac" from various sources.