glass

noun, often attributive

\ ˈglas

, ˈgläs\

Definition of glass

(Entry 1 of 4)

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

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

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

2a : something made of glass: such as

(1) : tumbler also : glassware

(2) : mirror

(3) : barometer

(4) : hourglass

(5) : backboard sense 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 glasses 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

3 : the quantity held by a glass container

4 : fiberglass

5 : crystal meth specifically : a pure form of crystal meth

glass

verb

glassed; glassing; glasses

Definition of glass (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

1a : to provide with glass : glaze sense 1

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

2 : to make glassy

3a : reflect

b : to see mirrored

4 : to look at through an optical instrument (such as a pair of binoculars)

intransitive verb

: glaze entry 1 sense 1

Glass

biographical name (1)

\ ˈglas

Definition of Glass (Entry 3 of 4)

Carter 1858–1946 American statesman

Glass

biographical name (2)

Definition of Glass (Entry 4 of 4)

Philip 1937– American composer

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Examples of glass in a Sentence

Noun

The waiter filled our glasses with water. She drank two glasses of water. She was wearing dark glasses with thick black frames.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The week celebrates more than blending, shaking and otherwise putting alcohol in fancy glasses. — Kathy Flanigan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee Cocktail Week kicks off Sept. 23. Here are 4 events you'll want to check out.," 9 Sep. 2019 That crewman was behind glass in a separate engineering compartment on another deck, Reed said. — Washington Post, "Fourth and final crewman pulled alive from capsized ship," 9 Sep. 2019 The home features wood inlaid ceilings, retractable glass walls and a gourmet kitchen with multiple ovens. — Ebony Day, azcentral, "5 Paradise Valley homes sell for more than $2M," 9 Sep. 2019 Windows, glass display cases and behind registers are the spots to focus your attention. — Doreen Christensen, sun-sentinel.com, "Thrift shopping secrets: Scoop up Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Gucci for a few bucks | Doreen’s Deals," 8 Sep. 2019 Pininfarina made those windows of a material that’s more permeable to cellular signals than conventional glass. — Wired, "Imagine the Views From This Italian-Designed Swiss Train," 8 Sep. 2019 Franklin voices most of the videos, and there are even a few with glasses-wearing sunflowers that shouldn't be missed. — Aj Willingham, CNN, "Hurricane heroes, a football brotherhood and an adventurous sloth," 7 Sep. 2019 It has been updated multiple times since, most recently a $6.5 million upgrade in 2014 that covered the installation of a new HVAC system, a new sound system, ice sheet boards and glass for the rink. — Chase Michaelson, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan State hockey: Tom Izzo backs coach Danton Cole as part of Munn renovation," 7 Sep. 2019 This one features a handicapped-accessible walk-in shower with a blue glass tile backsplash and rainshower head. — Boston.com Real Estate, "Home of the Week: The flooring in this 3-bedroom Cape is school chalkboards," 7 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

But here, the kitchen is entrusted to her longtime collaborator, chef Rustle Biehn, and Garaventa can step behind the glassed-in corner that is now her whole-animal, ethically focused butcher shop. — Fortune, "Seattle’s Coolest New Restaurants Break the Mold," 8 Sep. 2019 Chefs tend the flames and the skewers behind a glassed-in grill; this is a fine place to splurge on pricier cuts of meat such as rack of lamb kebab. — Los Angeles Times, "Two food writers eat at all the Persian restaurants in SoCal (OK, 18 of them)," 6 Aug. 2019 Adjacent to the biergarten below Fadensonnen, the glassed-in space looks from the outside like a food lab or a Mac store. — Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, "Larder brings Chez Panisse-style to Old Goucher," 24 July 2019 As is growing more common in high-end residential buildings, the gym is lavishly appointed with the latest equipment and occupies its own glassed-in building on the plaza instead of being tucked in a windowless corner. — Los Angeles Times, "Los Angeles apartment owners race to add luxury amenities," 11 Aug. 2019 In addition to the glassed-in dining room, Waterfront Restaurant also offers patios overlooking the pristine bay of Green Bay. — Travel Wisconsin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Where to find the best outdoor dining with a waterfront view in Wisconsin," 14 July 2019 The master bath was expanded to include a glassed-in shower with river stones set into the floor as well as an antique claw-foot tub. — Carol Riordan, courant.com, "Property of the week: 262 Kenyon Street, Hartford," 16 Nov. 2017 In November 2017, Semedo was investigated over two separate incidents relating to possession of a firearm in a Valencia nightclub and glassing a man over the head with a bottle. — SI.com, "Villarreal Defender Ruben Semedo Arrested for a Third Time for Kidnap and Assault Operation," 20 Feb. 2018 Steps away, in a separate room with a door, the toilet and glassed-in shower got illumination from a skylight. — Sara Lieberman, New York Times, "In Mexico, a Former Factory Is an Artful Hotel," 31 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'glass.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near glass

Statistics for glass

Last Updated

12 Sep 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for glass

The first known use of glass was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for glass

glass

noun

English Language Learners Definition of glass

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

glass

verb

English Language Learners Definition of glass (Entry 2 of 2)

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

See the full definition for glass in the English Language Learners Dictionary

glass

noun

\ ˈglas

Kids Definition of glass

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

2 : a drinking container made of glass

3 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

4 : the contents of a glass a glass of milk

glass

noun, often attributive

\ ˈglas

Medical Definition of glass

1a : 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

2a : 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 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