Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Resembling glass in appearance: Having the smooth, shiny, transparent, or reflective qualities characteristic of glass.
   • Dull and lifeless: (Especially of eyes) lacking expression, liveliness, or focus; appearing fixed and vacant.
   • Made shiny and nonporous: (Of a material like ceramics) having a surface treated to be smooth and glossy, often by applying a vitreous coating.

Usage and Examples

• Describing a smooth, reflective surface:

  • The lake was glassy and perfectly still in the morning light.
  • After the rain, the pavement was glassy and slippery.

• Describing eyes that are expressionless:

  • He listened with a glassy stare, showing no reaction to the news.
  • Her eyes were glassy with fatigue after the long journey.

• Describing a treated, glossy material:

  • The artist fired the pot to create a glassy finish.
  • The tiles had a hard, glassy surface that was easy to clean.

Advanced Usage

• "Glassy-eyed": An intensified form describing someone whose eyes are completely devoid of expression, often due to shock, tiredness, or substance influence.
  • The survivors were glassy-eyed with shock.
• "Glassy smooth": Emphasizes an extreme degree of smoothness and lack of friction.
  • The ice on the pond was glassy smooth.

Variants and Related Words

• Glassily (adverb): In a glassy manner.
  • He stared glassily out the window.
• Glassiness (noun): The state or quality of being glassy.
  • The glassiness of her eyes was concerning.

Synonyms

• Glazed: (For eyes or surfaces) having a shiny or glossy coating; appearing fixed and unfocused.
• Vitreous: Of, resembling, or having the nature of glass.
• Expressionless: Lacking expression; blank.
• Slick: Smooth and glossy; often implying a surface that is slippery.

Antonyms

• Matte: Having a dull, non-reflective surface.
• Animated: (For eyes) full of life and expression.
• Rough: Having an uneven or irregular surface.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• A glassy stare/look: A fixed, vacant look that shows a lack of attention or emotion.
  • She gave him a glassy look, not really hearing his question.
• (As) smooth as glass: An idiom comparing something's smoothness to that of glass. While not containing the exact word "glassy," it conveys a similar meaning for surfaces.
  • The sea was as smooth as glass.

Adjective

1. (of ceramics) having the surface made shiny and nonporous by fusing a vitreous solution to it
   • glazed pottery
   • glassy porcelain
   • hard vitreous china used for plumbing fixtures
2. (used of eyes) lacking liveliness
   • empty eyes
   • a glassy stare
   • his eyes were glazed over with boredom
3. resembling glass in smoothness and shininess and slickness
   • the glassy surface of the lake
   • the pavement was...glassy with water- Willa Cather