lacquerware

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   Decorative bowls, boxes, trays, and other objects coated with a hard, glossy lacquer finish.

   Grammar: No plural and no 'a': say 'a piece of lacquerware' for one item.

   Patterns

   • a piece of lacquerware
   • carved lacquerware
   • traditional lacquerware

   The museum has a fine collection of Japanese lacquerware from the Edo period.

   She bought a small piece of red lacquerware as a souvenir.

   The trays are made of lacquerware, so they should be washed by hand.

2. 2noununcountable

   The craft or industry of making objects with a lacquer coating.

   Grammar: Used like an activity noun: 'work in lacquerware'.

   Patterns

   • work in lacquerware
   • the lacquerware trade

   His family has worked in lacquerware for four generations.

   The town is known for its lacquerware, which uses sap from local trees.

Common combinations

carved lacquerware

Carved lacquerware takes months to complete because each layer must dry.

a piece of lacquerware

He wrapped each piece of lacquerware carefully in soft cloth.

lacquerware bowl

The soup was served in a deep lacquerware bowl.

traditional lacquerware

Visitors can watch artisans making traditional lacquerware.

lacquerware production

Lacquerware production declined when plastic containers became cheap.

Synonyms and how they differ

lacquer

Lacquer is the liquid coating itself, not the finished object; lacquerware means the objects.

japan

An old-fashioned term for lacquered articles; lacquerware is the modern, neutral word.

Word family

lacquer noun

A hard, shiny liquid coating used on wood or metal.

lacquer verb

To cover a surface with lacquer.

lacquered adjective

Covered with a shiny lacquer finish.

Commonly confused: lacquerware or pottery?

Practice

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