glaze

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈglāz 

glazed; glazing; glazes

transitive verb

1

: to furnish or fit with glass

glazed the windows

2

a

: to coat with or as if with a glaze

The storm glazed trees with ice.

b

: to apply a glaze to

glaze doughnuts

glazing pottery

3

: to give a smooth glossy surface to

glazed leather/paper

… the fur may be glazed by rubbing over with a wet cloth.

—The Manitoba Farmers' Library

4

slang : to praise excessively or obsequiously

Before you accuse us of glazing Justin Herbert, tell me: Can any other starting QB say they went the majority of the season … without an interception?

—Brighid Tully

intransitive verb

1

: to become glazed or glassy

—often used with over

My eyes glazed over.

2

: to form a glaze

—often used with over

Ice glazed over Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia, knocking down power lines …

—Amy R. Connolly

3

slang : to praise someone or something excessively or obsequiously

I'll stop glazing when he stops deserving it, which he won't, because he's the best.

—@mpsteidle, on Reddit

glazer noun

glaze

2 of 4

noun (1)

plural glazes

1

: a smooth slippery coating of thin ice

2

a(1)

: a liquid preparation applied to food on which it forms a firm glossy coating

(2)

: a mixture mostly of oxides (such as silica and alumina) applied to the surface of ceramic wares to form a moisture-impervious and often lustrous or ornamental coating

b

: a transparent or translucent color applied to modify the effect of a painted surface

c

: a smooth glossy or lustrous surface or finish

3

: a glassy film

4

slang : excessive or obsequious praise

C'mon guys they're cool but this is just glaze …

—@unclesquid_69, on Reddit

glaze

3 of 4

verb (2)

glazed; glazing

intransitive verb

archaic

: stare

glazer

4 of 4

noun (2)

glaz·​er

-zə(r)

plural -s

1

: one that glazes: such as

a

: an operator of a machine that puts a gloss on leather by rubbing it with a hard roller after it has been oiled

b

: one that coats pottery, brick, or tile by dipping the product into a glaze solution

c

: one that gives furs a glossy finish

d

: panman

2

: a tool, machine, or other device used for glazing

Examples of glaze in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The pot is covered with a bright red glaze.

doughnuts with a chocolate glaze

The pot needs more glaze.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The collection also includes a special Poké Ball Doughnut — glazed and dipped in vanilla icing, topped with red sprinkles and piped with chocolate icing. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

Shop Now The juicy semi-sheer effect has been on the scene for a minute, arriving on social feeds last year alongside similarly sweet trends like glazed donut nails and cherry cola hair. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026

Noun

Our Top Picks The Heirloom Pick Any piece from Le Creuset is a shoo-in heirloom piece, and these heritage stoneware dishes in the brand’s classic vibrant glazes are no exception. — Clara Hillis, Architectural Digest, 18 Aug. 2026

This look puts a sheer glaze over a beige base, with a glamorous high-shine finish. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English glasen, from glas glass

Verb (2)

probably blend of glare and gaze

Noun (2)

Middle English glaser one whose work is cutting and setting glass (as windowpanes), from glasen to glaze + -er

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1601, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for glaze

• baize
• bays
• blase
• blaze
• braes
• braze
• chaise
• claes
• clays
• craze
• dais
• days

Kids Definition

glaze

1 of 2 verb

ˈglāz 

glazed; glazing

1

: to set glass in

glaze a window

2

: to cover with a glassy surface

glaze pottery

3

: to become shiny in appearance

glazer noun

glaze

2 of 2 noun

: a glassy surface or coating