novolac

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noun

Any of several polymers derived from phenols and formaldehyde with low molecular weight and related to Bakelite but less highly cross-linked.

OriginLatin novus ← Swedish lack →
Scrabble 12
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Meanings

nounnovolac (plural novolacs)

plural novolacs · alternative novolack · alternative novolak

  1. materials scienceAny of several polymers derived from phenols and formaldehyde with low molecular weight and related to Bakelite but less highly cross-linked.

Origin

  1. Swedishlack“lacquer”
  2. Latinnovus“new”
  3. Englishnovolac

From Latin novus (“new”) + Swedish lack (“lacquer”), because these materials were envisioned to replace natural lacquers such as copal resin.

More words from Latin, Swedish

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Russian новола́к
  • новола́к (novolák)Translations

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

volcano
Cite this entry
APA

novolac. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/novolac

MLA

“novolac.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/novolac. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “novolac,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/novolac.

Source: novolac on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.