noun
Uncommon
porcelain
PAW-suh-lihn
Porcelain (noun) means a hard, translucent white ceramic made by firing fine clay at high heat, or objects made from it. Example: “The museum's collection of antique Chinese porcelain is world-famous.”
noun
1
A hard, translucent white ceramic made by firing fine clay at high heat, or objects made from it.
"The museum's collection of antique Chinese porcelain is world-famous."
"She set the table with delicate porcelain teacups."
How to use porcelain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFine, hard, white ceramic, or an object made from it, prized for its delicacy and translucence.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
fine porcelain
porcelain vase
porcelain doll
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Word forms
- Plural
- porcelains
- Third person singular
- porcelains
- Past tense
- porcelained
Fill the gap
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The museum's collection of antique Chinese _____ is world-famous.
Etymology
From Old Italian porcellana, originally meaning "cowrie shell" — the material was named for its resemblance to the glossy surface of the shell.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for porcelain
See all rhymes for porcelain →Frequently asked questions
What does “porcelain” mean?
The word “porcelain” means a hard, translucent white ceramic made by firing fine clay at high heat, or objects made from it. In plain terms, fine, hard, white ceramic, or an object made from it, prized for its delicacy and translucence.
How do you pronounce “porcelain”?
“Porcelain” is pronounced PAW-suh-lihn (/ˈpɔɹs(ə)lɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “porcelain” in a sentence?
Here is “porcelain” used in a sentence: “The museum's collection of antique Chinese porcelain is world-famous.”
What part of speech is “porcelain”?
“Porcelain” is a noun.
Where does the word “porcelain” come from?
The word “porcelain” comes from Italian. From Old Italian porcellana, originally meaning "cowrie shell" — the material was named for its resemblance to the glossy surface of the shell.
Is “porcelain” a common word?
“Porcelain” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between porcelain and china?
Porcelain and china largely overlap, both referring to a hard, translucent white ceramic made by firing fine clay at high heat; "china" is essentially a common name for porcelain, especially tableware, derived from its historical association with Chinese manufacture. "Bone china" is a specific type of porcelain that includes bone ash in the clay mixture.
What is the difference between porcelain and ceramic?
Ceramic is the broad category covering all fired-clay materials, including earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain, while porcelain is a specific, especially hard and translucent type of ceramic made from fine clay fired at very high temperatures. All porcelain is ceramic, but not all ceramic is porcelain.
Is porcelain the same as bone china?
Not exactly: bone china is a specific variety of porcelain that includes bone ash, giving it extra strength and a warmer white colour, whereas porcelain more broadly refers to any hard, translucent white ceramic fired from fine clay.
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