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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.

porcelain

/ˈpɔːrsəlɪn/ /ˈpɔːsəlɪn/

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.

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