porcelain

[ pawr-suh-lin, pohr-; pawrs-lin, pohrs- ]

noun

1. a strong, vitreous, translucent ceramic material, biscuit-fired at a low temperature, the glaze then fired at a very high temperature.
2. ware made from this.

porcelain

/ ˈpɔːslɪn; ˌpɔːsəˈleɪnɪəs; ˈpɔːsə-; -leɪn /

noun

1. a more or less translucent ceramic material, the principal ingredients being kaolin and petuntse (hard paste) or other clays, ground glassy substances, soapstone, bone ash, etc
2. an object made of this or such objects collectively
3. modifier of, relating to, or made from this material

   a porcelain cup

Derived Forms

• porcellaneous, adjective

Other Words From

• por·ce·la·ne·ous por·cel·la·ne·ous [pawr-s, uh, -, ley, -nee-, uh, s, pohr-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of porcelain¹

1520–30; < French porcelaine < Italian porcellana originally, a type of cowry shell, apparently likened to the vulva of a sow, noun use of feminine of porcellano of a young sow, equivalent to porcell ( a ), diminutive of porca sow ( pork, -elle ) + -ano -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of porcelain¹

C16: from French porcelaine, from Italian porcellana cowrie shell, porcelain (from its shell-like finish), literally: relating to a sow (from the resemblance between a cowrie shell and a sow's vulva), from porcella little sow, from porca sow, from Latin; see pork

Example Sentences

The manual for your model warns against using commercial oven cleaners or metal scouring pads for fear of damaging the porcelain surfaces on the oven interior.

From Washington Post

When I grew up, the big present my dad gave me was this porcelain figurine of some kid at plate, ready to hit a ball.

From Ozy

Ceramic and porcelain retain and regulate heat particularly well without getting too hot or wavering between temperatures.

From Popular-Science

Beyond clothes, Cardin put his stamp on perfumes, makeup, porcelain, chocolates, a resort in the south of France and even the velvet-walled watering hole Maxim’s — where he could often be seen at lunch.

From Fortune

Meyer, who shares her brother’s slight build, porcelain features and dark chestnut hair, lobbied Freddie Mac in person on behalf of Kushner Companies in February last year, a timeline of the deal obtained by ProPublica shows.

From ProPublica

The modest eating area has more than a dozen tables, each punctuated by a small porcelain vase with a plastic flower poking out.

From The Daily Beast

She found out on her first day on the job in 1941, when confronted with two bodies laid out on gleaming white porcelain tables.

From The Daily Beast

Goldblum, himself looking prim with a porcelain saucer and teacup in hand, says he found this “wildly touching.”

From The Daily Beast

But the beautiful porcelain pendant that Agatha (Saoirse Ronan) wears.

From The Daily Beast

So how the hell do you work with a Belle Époque, over-the-top, over-gilded house full of French porcelain and furniture?

From The Daily Beast

They use those with long, straight stems, and both their clay and porcelain pipes are of the finest form and finish.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of these like German pipes are made of porcelain, adorned with portraits (p. 149) and landscapes.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, too, they wanted to fasten the porcelain insulators just right and had to consult one of the books several times.

From Project Gutenberg

Some are on wood, some on porcelain, some on glass, some on dire deeds intent.

From Project Gutenberg

That rare and curious being called I is more fragile than any porcelain jar.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ceramic
• ceramics
• enamel