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The history of "vitrine" is clear as glass. It comes to English by way of the Old French word vitre, meaning "pane of glass," from Latin vitrum, meaning "glass." "Vitrum" has contributed a number of words to the English language besides "vitrine." "Vitreous" ("resembling glass" or "relating to, derived from, or consisting of glass") is the most common of these. "Vitrify" ("to convert or become converted into glass or into a glassy substance by heat and fusion") is another. A much rarer "vitrum" word - and one that also entered English by way of "vitre" - is vitrailed, meaning "fitted with stained glass."
Examples of vitrine in a Sentence
David Moin, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
The exhibition presents paintings, installations, sculpture, ceramics, and films from several of the university’s departments, including vitrines from the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures.
—Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025
The leg of the journey continued up a spiral staircase to a roof deck where guests discovered a key necklace style in a glass vitrine overlooking the East River, its bridges, and Manhattan, truly a death-defying jewelry display.
—Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
In one vitrine, a humble black iron keeps company beside a little metal box for holding pins or thread.
—Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for vitrine
Cite this Entry
“Vitrine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vitrine. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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