lac
noun
[ lak ]
• a resinous substance secreted as a protective covering by the lac insect, used to make varnish, shellac, sealing wax, dyes, etc.
Origin:
late Middle English: from medieval Latin lac, lac(c)a, from Portuguese laca, based on Hindi lākh or Persian lāk .
lac
adjective
• denoting the ability of normal strains of the bacterium E. coli to metabolize lactose, or the genetic factors involved in this ability (which is lost in some mutant strains).
• "the lac operon"
Origin:
1940s: abbreviation of lactose.
lac
noun
• variant spelling of lakh.
LAC
abbreviation
• (in the RAF) Leading Aircraftman or Leading Aircraftwoman.
lakh
noun
• a hundred thousand.
• "they fixed the price at five lakhs of rupees"
Origin:
via Hindi from Sanskrit lakṣa .
