lākṣā f. (cf. rākṣā and Uṇ. iii, 62, Sch.) a species of plant, AV.

a kind of red dye, lac (obtained from the cochineal or a similar insect as well as from the resin of a partic. tree), Mn.; MBh. &c.

the insect or animal which produces the red dye, MW.

lākṣā [lakṣyate'nayā lakṣ ac pṛṣo˚ vṛddhiḥ] 1 A kind of red dye, lac; (largely used by women in ancient times as an article of decoration, especially for the soles of the feet and lips; cf. alakta; it is said to be obtained from the cochineal insect and from the resin of a particular tree); niṣṭhyūtaścaraṇopabhogasulabho lākṣārasaḥ kenācit (taruṇā) Ś. 4. 4; Rs. 6. 14; (pb) Ki. 5. 23. 2 The insect which produces the red dye. Comp. — taruḥ, -vṛkṣaḥ N. of a tree, Butea Frondosa. — prasādaḥ, -prasādhanaḥ the red Lodhra tree. — rakta a. dyed with lac.

lākṣā f. (-kṣā) Lac, a red dye, or an insect which is analogous to the cochineal insect, and like it forms when dried and prepared, a dye of a red colour; the nest is formed of a resinous substance which is used as sealing wax, and is usually termed Shel lac. E. lakṣa to mark or stain, aff. a, and aṇ added, the vowel made long: or lakṣa a hundred thousand, and aṇ aff.; made by a multitude of the insects.