Main definitions of lac in English

noun

• A resinous substance secreted as a protective covering by the lac insect, used to make varnish, shellac, sealing wax, dyes, etc.

  Synonyms

  lacquer, shellac, japan, enamel, glaze, polish, oil, resin, wax

  View synonyms

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’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Other events are correlated with the stable exploration of new niches, like the acquisition of the lac operon by E. coli or pathogenicity islands by Salmonella.’
  • ‘These strains might not even use their lac gene products to metabolize lactose.’
  • ‘A metabolite of lactose binds to the lac repressor, changing the protein's shape and thereby causing it to loosen its grip on the DNA.’
  • ‘In addition to the lac operon, a number of other synthetic and natural genetic circuits have been analyzed for robustness and evolvability.’
  • ‘This system is probably still the best-understood regulatory system in eukaryotic biology and today is taught in every textbook of genetics and cell biology, alongside the lysis-lysogeny decision of and the lac operon of E. coli.’

noun

• variant spelling of lakh

• (in the RAF) Leading Aircraftman or Leading Aircraftwoman.