porcelain

noun por·ce·lain \ˈpȯr-s(ə-)lən\

: a hard, white substance that is very delicate and that is made by baking clay

Full Definition of PORCELAIN

: a hard, fine-grained, sonorous, nonporous, and usually translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and a feldspathic rock and is fired at a high temperature —called also hard-paste porcelain, true porcelain

: soft-paste porcelain

— por·ce·lain·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

— por·ce·la·ne·ous or por·cel·la·ne·ous \ˌpȯr-sə-ˈlā-nē-əs\ adjective

See porcelain defined for English-language learners

See porcelain defined for kids

Origin of PORCELAIN

Middle French porcelaine cowrie shell, porcelain, from Italian porcellana, from porcello vulva, literally, little pig, from Latin porcellus, diminutive of porcus pig, vulva; from the shape of the shell — more at farrow

First Known Use: circa 1530

PORCELAIN Defined for Kids

porcelain

noun por·ce·lain \ˈpȯr-sə-lən\

Definition of PORCELAIN for Kids

: a hard white product of baked clay used especially for dishes, tile, and decorative objects

Medical Dictionary

porcelain

noun por·ce·lain \ˈpōr-s(ə-)lən, ˈpȯr-\

Medical Definition of PORCELAIN

: a hard, fine-grained, nonporous, and usually translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar and that has many uses in dentistry