# glasses

/ˈɡɫæsəz/ (US) · /ɡlˈɑːsɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/glasses
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. eyewear

noun · CEFR A1

a pair of lenses in a frame that you wear on your face to help you see better.

For teachers: a pair of corrective lenses mounted in a frame and worn in front of the eyes to improve vision.

- I need to wear my glasses when I read the newspaper.
- After the eye examination, the optometrist suggested that she might need reading glasses to alleviate her frequent headaches.

Usage: Always plural; takes a plural verb unless preceded by 'a pair of'.

### 3. optical instruments

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

instruments like binoculars used to see things that are far away.

For teachers: optical instruments consisting of two lenses, such as binoculars or field glasses, used for long-distance viewing.

- He used his field glasses to watch the birds in the trees.
- The captain raised his glasses to the horizon, searching for any sign of the approaching fleet through the morning mist.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'field glasses'.

## Examples

- I need to wear my glasses to read the menu.
- She forgot her glasses at home, so she had to sit in the front row to see the screen.
- Modern glasses often feature anti-reflective coatings and lightweight materials, making them far more comfortable for long-term wear than the heavy frames of previous decades.

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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.