n., v., & adj.
n. 1 a (often attrib.) a hard, brittle, usu. transparent, translucent, or shiny substance, made by fusing sand with soda and lime and sometimes other ingredients (a glass jug) (cf. crown glass, flint glass, plate glass). b a substance of similar properties or composition. 2 (often collect.) an object or objects made from, or partly from, glass, esp.: a a drinking vessel. b a mirror; a looking-glass. c an hour- or sand-glass. d a window. e a greenhouse (rows of lettuce under glass). f glass ornaments. g a barometer. h a glass disc covering a watch-face. i a magnifying lens. j a monocle. 3 (in pl.) a spectacles. b field-glasses; opera-glasses. 4 the amount of liquid contained in a glass; a drink (he likes a glass).
v.tr. 1 (usu. as glassed adj.) fit with glass; glaze. 2 poet. reflect as in a mirror. 3 Mil. look at or for with field-glasses.
adj. of or made from glass. glass-blower a person who blows semi-molten glass to make glassware. glass-blowing this occupation. glass case an exhibition display case made mostly from glass. glass-cloth 1 a linen cloth for drying glasses. 2 a cloth covered with powdered glass or abrasive, like glass-paper. glass cloth a woven fabric of fine-spun glass. glass-cutter 1 a worker who cuts glass. 2 a tool used for cutting glass. glass eye a false eye made from glass. glass fibre 1 a filament or filaments of glass made into fabric. 2 such filaments embedded in plastic as reinforcement. glass-gall = SANDIVER. glass-making the manufacture of glass. glass-paper paper covered with glass-dust or abrasive and used for smoothing and polishing. glass snake any snakelike lizard of the genus Ophisaurus, with a very brittle tail. glass wool glass in the form of fine fibres used for packing and insulation. has had a glass too much is rather drunk. glassful n. (pl. -fuls). glassless adj. glasslike adj.
[ OE gls f. Gmc: cf. GLAZE ]