# glass

/ˈɡɫæs/ (US) · /ɡlˈɑːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/glass
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the material

noun · CEFR A1

a hard, clear material that is used to make things like windows, bottles, and mirrors.

For teachers: an inorganic, amorphous, and typically transparent solid made by fusing silica with various additives.

- Be careful not to step on the broken glass on the kitchen floor.
- The architect specified a specialized type of tempered glass to ensure the skyscraper's facade could withstand extreme wind pressure.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the substance itself.

### 2. drinking vessel

noun · CEFR A1

a container made of glass or plastic that you use for drinking.

For teachers: a drinking vessel, typically cylindrical and without a handle, made of glass or similar translucent material.

- He poured a cold glass of orange juice for his guest.
- The waiter polished each wine glass until it sparkled under the restaurant's dim ambient lighting.

Usage: Countable; the plural is 'glasses'.

### 3. camera lenses

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Technical

the lenses used in a camera or other optical equipment.

For teachers: a collective term for high-quality optical lenses used in photography or cinematography.

- Professional photographers spend a lot of money on high-quality glass for their cameras.
- While the camera body is important, most cinematographers argue that investing in superior glass yields a more significant impact on image quality.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable collective noun in professional contexts.

### 4. a mirror

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a surface that reflects your image, like a mirror.

For teachers: a reflective surface, typically made of glass with a metallic backing; a mirror.

- She paused to check her hair in the glass before entering the room.
- The protagonist stared into the glass, barely recognizing the weathered face that looked back at him after years of travel.

### 5. to use binoculars

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical · Informal

to look at something through binoculars or a telescope.

For teachers: to scan or observe an area using optical instruments such as binoculars or a spotting scope.

- The birdwatcher spent hours glassing the trees for a rare owl.
- The hunters spent the early morning glassing the distant ridges, hoping to spot movement before the sun rose too high.

Usage: Common in hunting, birdwatching, and military contexts.

### 6. to attack with a glass

verb · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Vulgar

to hit someone in the face with a drinking glass.

For teachers: to strike a person with a drinking glass, often broken, with the intent to cause severe injury.

- The man was arrested after he tried to glass someone during the fight.
- The defendant was charged with grievous bodily harm after he allegedly glassed a patron during a heated argument at the pub.

Teaching tip: This is a very violent term used in news reports or informal speech about bar fights; avoid using it in polite conversation.

## Examples

- Be careful not to break the glass window.
- The architect chose to use recycled glass for the building's large front windows to let in more natural light.
- Modern skyscrapers utilize specialized glass treated with metallic oxides to reflect solar radiation, significantly reducing the energy required for internal climate control during the summer months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.