n. & adj.
--n.
1. a kind of fine white or translucent ceramic ware, porcelain, etc.
2 things made from ceramic, esp. household tableware.
3 rhymingsl. one's 'mate', i.e. husband or wife (short for china plate).
--adj. made of china.
Phrases and idioms:
china clay kaolin. China tea smoke-cured tea from a small-leaved tea plant grown in China.
Etymology: orig. China ware (from China in Asia): name f. Pers. chini