Porcelain - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Porcelain is a hard, white ceramic material made by heating clay at high temperatures. It is often used to make delicate tableware, decorative items, and dental crowns due to its durability and smooth finish.
Definition:
A hard, white ceramic material used for making delicate dishes and decorative items.
Synonyms:
china, ceramic, earthenware, pottery
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
plastic, metal
Common Collocations:
porcelain vase, porcelain doll, porcelain tiles, fine porcelain, porcelain figurine
Derivatives:
porcelaneous, porcellaneous
Usage Tips:
Use "porcelain" to describe high-quality ceramic items like dishes or art pieces; avoid for rough pottery or stoneware.
Common Phrases:
fragile as porcelain, porcelain skin, heart of porcelain
Etymology:
Derived from Italian "porcellana," meaning cowrie shell (resembling its smooth surface), later applied to the ceramic material.
Examples:
- 1. She collects antique porcelain teacups from Europe.
- 2. The bathroom floor is covered in white porcelain tiles.
- 3. Handle the porcelain figurine carefully—it’s very fragile!
- 4. Her skin was pale and smooth like porcelain.