/ ˈpɔːsəlɪn; NAmE ˈpɔːrs-/ noun
[ U , C ] a hard white shiny substance made by baking clay and used for making delicate cups, plates and decorative objects; objects that are made of this :
a porcelain figure
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from French porcelaine , from Italian porcellana cowrie shell, hence chinaware (from its resemblance to the dense polished shells).