porcelain

noun

por·​ce·​lain ˈpȯr-s(ə-)lən 

1

: a hard, fine-grained, sonorous, nonporous, and usually translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and a feldspathic rock and is fired at a high temperature

called also hard-paste porcelain, true porcelain

2

: soft-paste porcelain

porcelainlike

ˈpȯr-s(ə-)lən-ˌlīk 

adjective

porcelaneous adjective

or porcellaneous

ˌpȯr-sə-ˈlā-nē-əs 

Examples of porcelain in a Sentence

The bowl is made of porcelain.

Recent Examples on the Web

The quest for blue would bring us to a turquoise Egyptian hippo, a brilliant Monet sky, or a delicate Chinese porcelain bowl. —Christine Coulson, People.com, 15 Oct. 2024

Served by impeccably dressed waiters, guests sipped from crystal goblets and ate from fine porcelain using silver cutlery. —Oscar Holland, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024

Think salt shakers with buttons as lids; wall shelves in leather, porcelain and lacquered wood; stools in ash wool embellished with leather mushrooms, and boxes in porcelain, ash wood and leather with a hot dog or burger on top. —Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 9 Oct. 2024

John brings home a porcelain doll for Mia, intending it as a gift for their baby. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 6 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French porcelaine cowrie shell, porcelain, from Italian porcellana, from porcello vulva, literally, little pig, from Latin porcellus, diminutive of porcus pig, vulva; from the shape of the shell — more at farrow

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing porcelain

• hard-paste porcelain
• porcelain enamel
• soft-paste porcelain
• true porcelain

Kids Definition

porcelain

noun

por·​ce·​lain ˈpōr-s(ə-)lən 

ˈpȯr-

: a hard white ceramic ware used especially for dishes and chemical utensils

Medical Definition

porcelain

noun

por·​ce·​lain ˈpōr-s(ə-)lən, ˈpȯr- 

: a hard, fine-grained, nonporous, and usually translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar and that has many uses in dentistry