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¹glass

noun, often attributive \ˈglas, ˈgläs\

: a hard usually transparent material that is used for making windows and other products

: a drinking container made out of glass

: the amount held by a glass container

Full Definition of GLASS

: any of various amorphous materials formed from a melt by cooling to rigidity without crystallization: as

a : a usually transparent or translucent material consisting typically of a mixture of silicates

b : a material (as obsidian) produced by fast cooling of magma

a : something made of glass: as (1) : tumbler; also : glassware (2) : mirror (3) : barometer (4) : hourglass (5) : backboard 1

b (1) : an optical instrument or device that has one or more lenses and is designed to aid in the viewing of objects not readily seen (2) : field glasses, binoculars —usually used in plural

c plural : a device used to correct defects of vision or to protect the eyes that consists typically of a pair of glass or plastic lenses and the frame by which they are held in place —called also eyeglasses, spectacles

: the quantity held by a glass container

: fiberglass

— glass·ful \ˈglas-ˌfu̇l\ noun

— glass·less \-ləs\ adjective

See glass defined for English-language learners

See glass defined for kids

Origin of GLASS

Middle English glas, from Old English glæs; akin to Old English geolu yellow — more at yellow

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to GLASS

Synonyms: eyeglasses, specs, spectacles

Rhymes with GLASS

ass, bass, brass, class, crass, frass, gas, grass, lass, mass, pass, sass, strass, tasse, vas, wrasse

²glass

verb

: to fit, protect, or enclose (something) with glass

Full Definition of GLASS

transitive verb

a : to provide with glass : glaze 1

b : to enclose, case, or wall with glass <the sunroom was glassed in>

: to make glassy

a : reflect

b : to see mirrored

: to look at through an optical instrument (as binoculars)

intransitive verb

: ¹glaze 1

See glass defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of GLASS

14th century

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

Glass

biographical name \ˈglas\

Definition of GLASS

Carter 1858–1946 Am. statesman

Glass

biographical name

Definition of GLASS

Philip 1937– Am. composer

GLASS Defined for Kids

glass

noun \ˈglas\

Definition of GLASS for Kids

: a hard brittle usually transparent substance commonly made from sand heated with chemicals

: a drinking container made of glass

glasses plural : a pair of glass or plastic lenses held in a frame and used to help a person see clearly or to protect the eyes

: the contents of a glass <a glass of milk>

Medical Dictionary

glass

noun , often attrib \ˈglas\

Medical Definition of GLASS

a : an amorphous inorganic usually transparent or translucent substance consisting of a mixture of silicates or sometimes borates or phosphates formed by fusion of silica or of oxides of boron or phosphorus with a flux and a stabilizer into a mass that cools to a rigid condition without crystallization b : a substance resembling glass especially in hardness and transparency <organic glasses made from plastics>

a : an optical instrument or device that has one or more lenses and is designed to aid in the viewing of objects not readily seen b glasses pl : a device used to correct defects of vision or to protect the eyes that consists typically of a pair of glass or plastic lenses and the frame by which they are held in place—called also eyeglasses