porcelain
/'pɔ:slin/
Definition
- Noun:
- A hard, white, translucent ceramic material: Porcelain is a type of fine ceramic ware, traditionally made from specific clays like kaolin, and fired at high temperatures. It is known for its strength, whiteness, and translucency.
- Objects made from this material: The term also refers to decorative or utilitarian items, such as dishes, vases, or figurines, crafted from this ceramic.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The museum has a beautiful collection of 18th-century Chinese porcelain.
- She carefully washed the delicate porcelain teacup.
- The statue is made of fine, white porcelain.
Advanced Usage
- "Porcelain" as an attributive noun (used to describe other nouns):
- A porcelain doll. (A doll made of porcelain.)
- The porcelain sink was easy to clean.
- Figurative use to describe delicacy or fragility:
- Her skin was like porcelain. (Meaning it was very smooth, pale, and delicate.)
Variants and Related Words
- Porcelainize (verb, rare): To make into or coat with a substance resembling porcelain.
- Porcelaneous or Porcellaneous (adjective): Resembling porcelain in texture or appearance.
- The shell had a porcelaneous luster.
Synonyms
- China: Often used interchangeably with "porcelain" for tableware.
- Ceramic: A broader category that includes porcelain, earthenware, and stoneware.
- Pottery: A general term for objects made from fired clay, which can include porcelain.
Related Phrases
- Bone china: A type of porcelain that includes bone ash, making it very strong and translucent.
- Porcelain enamel: A glassy coating fused to metal, not technically porcelain ceramic, but named for its glossy, hard surface.
Related Idioms
- (To have) a porcelain complexion: An idiom describing very clear, smooth, and pale skin.
- The actress was famous for her porcelain complexion.
- Porcelain throne (humorous/slang): A euphemism for a toilet, often a high-quality one.
- He spent a long time on the porcelain throne reading the newspaper.
Noun
-
ceramic ware made of a more or less translucent ceramic
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