Definition of porcelain
1 : 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
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Examples of porcelain in a Sentence
The bowl is made of porcelain.
Recent Examples of porcelain from the Web
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Oakwood and porcelain floors are found throughout the home.
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The porcelain seeds, previously exhibited at the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern, are now part of a new artwork by IOCOSE.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'porcelain'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology 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 English Language Learners
porcelain
playDefinition of porcelain for English Language Learners
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: a hard, white substance that is very delicate and that is made by baking clay
PORCELAIN Defined for Kids
porcelain
playDefinition of porcelain for Students
: a hard white product of baked clay used especially for dishes, tile, and decorative objects
Medical Dictionary
porcelain
playMedical 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
Learn More about porcelain
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Spanish Central: Translation of porcelain Nglish: Translation of porcelain for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of porcelain for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about porcelain
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