1. a hard, glossy black lacquer or varnish, traditionally used to coat and decorate wooden objects
Usage: often capitalized when referring to the traditional Japanese technique or product

1. to coat or decorate with japan (lacquer or varnish)
Usage: transitive verb; often capitalized in historical or technical contexts

Examples

• The antique box was covered in a beautiful black japan finish.
• The craftsman used japan to protect the wooden furniture from moisture.
• They decided to japan the cabinet to give it a more elegant appearance.
• The japan coating on the old desk had begun to crack with age.
• She learned to japan decorative objects using traditional techniques.