glass

Less common meanings

7. 7
   nounarchaiccountable

   A window or pane, especially one in a car or other vehicle.

   [N]o sooner had we entered Holbourn than letting down one of the Front Glasses I enquired of every decent-looking Person that we passed ‘If they had seen my Edward?’

   1790, Jane Austen, “Love and Freindship”Here, Glasses means the carriage windows, so a front window was lowered.

   Note
8. 8
   mirrornouncountable or uncountable

   A surface that reflects your image so you can see yourself.

   She looked at herself in the glass before going out.

   He wiped the steam away and studied his face in the glass.

   Similarmirror

9. 9
   non-crystal solidnouncountable or uncountable

   Any solid whose tiny parts are not in a neat, repeating pattern and that slowly softens when heated.

   Like a crowd standing in random spots instead of in neat rows.

   When lava cools very fast, it hardens into a natural glass.

   Scientists call hard candy a glass because its sugar never forms crystals.

   Note
10. 10
    see-throughnouncountable or uncountablebefore a noun

    Used in the names of some animals to show that you can see through their bodies.

    The glass frog has skin so clear on its belly that you can see its heart.

    The glass shrimp in our fish tank are almost impossible to spot.

    Note
11. 11
    camera lensesnouncolloquialuncountable

    Camera lenses, thought of all together as a group.

    She spent more on glass than on the camera body.

    Photographers often say the glass matters more than the camera.

    Similarlenses, optics

    Note
12. 12
    telescopenouncountable or uncountable

    A tube with lenses used to see faraway things, such as a telescope.

    Like a tool that brings faraway things close to your eye.

    The sailor looked through his glass at the far-off ship.

    The lookout put the glass to his eye and spotted land.

    Similartelescope, spyglass

    Note
13. 13
    fit panesverbtransitive

    To put glass into a window or wall, or to cover something with glass.

    The cafe glassed in its patio so people can eat there all year.

    The workers will glass the new storefront next week.

    UsageSay glass in a porch.

    Similarglaze

14. 14
    backboardnouncolloquialcountable or uncountable

    In basketball, the clear board behind the hoop that a shot can bounce off.

    He banked the ball off the glass for an easy two points.

    Her shot kissed the glass and dropped through the net.

    UsageSay off the glass.

    Similarbackboard

15. 15
    rink barriernouncountable or uncountable

    The see-through wall that goes around the edge of an ice hockey rink.

    Like a clear fence that keeps the puck from flying into the crowd.

    The puck slammed into the glass right behind the net.

    Fans pressed against the glass to watch the players warm up.

    UsageSay into the glass.

    Note
16. 16
    scan (binoculars)verbtransitive

    To look at something far away by using binoculars or a similar tool.

    Like using binoculars to search a faraway hill for animals.

    She glassed the far ridge, hoping to spot the deer.

    Hunters glass the valley at dawn to find moving game.

    UsageSay glass a hill.

    Similarscan, survey

    Note
17. 17
    sand timernounobsoletecountable or uncountable

    An hourglass: a device that measures time with sand flowing between two bulbs.

    Were my Wiues Liuer / Infected (as her life) ſhe would not liue / The running of one Glaſſe.

    c. 1610, William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”Here, Glasse means an hourglass, so the time it takes the sand to run out.

    Note
18. 18
    hit (bar fight)verbcolloquialUKtransitive

    To hit someone, usually in the face, with a drinking glass to hurt them.

    He glassed another customer during the pub brawl.

    She threatened to glass him if he came any closer.

    UsagePeople say someone got glassed.

    Note
19. 19
    resin coatingverbtransitiveabbreviationclipping

    Clipping of fibreglass: to cover or build something with fiberglass.

    They glassed the hull of the boat before painting it.

    We need to glass the deck to make it waterproof.

    Note
20. 20
    weather gaugenouncountable or uncountable

    A tool that measures air pressure to help predict the weather.

    Like a weather clock that shows if rain is on the way.

    The old sailor tapped the glass to check the weather.

    When the glass falls quickly, a storm may be coming.

    UsageSay the glass is falling.

    Similarbarometer

    Note
21. 21
    verbtransitive or intransitive

    To make something smooth and shiny like glass, or to become that way.

    Like melting sand until it turns smooth and shiny like a window.

    When the wind died down, the lake glassed over and reflected the hills.

    Whenever the wind stops, the lake starts to glass over like a mirror.

    Similarglaze

22. 22
    reflectverbarchaicreflexive

    To show an image of something by reflecting it, like a mirror.

    Happy to glass themselves in so brilliant a mirror.

    1856, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History.Here, glass means reflect, to see themselves as in a mirror.

    Where the Almighty's form glasses itself in tempests.

    1818, Lord Byron, Childe Harold’s PilgrimageHere, glasses means reflects, so God's form shows in storms like a mirror.

    Note
23. 23
    verb

    To attack a place with such powerful bombs that the ground melts into glass.
24. 24
    verb

    To make leather smooth and shiny by rubbing it with a glass tool.