Shellac vs. Varnish — What's the Difference?

Shellac () is a resin secreted by the female lac bug on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. It is processed and sold as dry flakes and dissolved in alcohol to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze and wood finish.

Varnish is a clear transparent hard protective coating or film. It is not a stain.

A purified lac in the form of thin yellow or orange flakes, often bleached white and widely used in varnishes, paints, inks, sealants, and formerly in phonograph records.

Resin dissolved in a liquid for applying on wood, metal, or other materials to form a hard, clear, shiny surface when dry

A thin varnish made by dissolving this substance in denatured alcohol, used to finish wood.

Apply varnish to

An old phonograph record containing this substance, typically played at 78 rpm.

A liquid that contains a solvent and an oxidizing or evaporating binder and is applied to a surface to produce a hard, transparent finish after evaporation and curing.

To coat or finish with shellac.

The smooth coating or gloss resulting from the application of this liquid

To strike repeatedly and severely; batter.

Something suggestive of or resembling varnish.

To defeat decisively.

An often deceptive external appearance or outward show

A processed secretion of the lac insect, Coccus lacca; used in polishes, varnishes etc.

To cover with varnish.

A beating; a thrashing.

To give a smooth and glossy finish to.

(transitive) To coat with shellac.

To give a superficial or deceptive appearance to

To beat; to thrash.

A type of paint with a solvent that evaporates to leave a hard, transparent, glossy film.

To inflict a heavy defeat upon.

Anything resembling such a paint; glossy appearance.

Lac which has been reduced to a thin crust. See the Note under 2d Lac.

(by extension) A deceptively showy appearance.

A solution of shellac{1} in alcohol or other volatile solvent, used as a varnish.

A passenger train, probably derived from the varnished passenger cars used at one time.

A phonograph record, made of a material containing shellac; - no longer manufactured.

(intransitive) To apply varnish.

Lac purified by heating and filtering; usually in thin orange or yellow flakes but sometimes bleached white

(transitive) To cover up with varnish.

A thin varnish made by dissolving lac in ethanol; used to finish wood

(transitive) To make something superficially or deceptively attractive

Cover with shellac;

(transitive) To gloss over a defect.

A viscid liquid, consisting of a solution of resinous matter in an oil or a volatile liquid, laid on work with a brush, or otherwise. When applied the varnish soon dries, either by evaporation or chemical action, and the resinous part forms thus a smooth, hard surface, with a beautiful gloss, capable of resisting, to a greater or less degree, the influences of air and moisture.

That which resembles varnish, either naturally or artificially; a glossy appearance.

An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any act or conduct; outside show; gloss.

To lay varnish on; to cover with a liquid which produces, when dry, a hard, glossy surface; as, to varnish a table; to varnish a painting.

To cover or conceal with something that gives a fair appearance; to give a fair coloring to by words; to gloss over; to palliate; as, to varnish guilt.

Paint that provides a hard glossy transparent coating

Cover with varnish