glaze
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a shiny, sweet, or salty liquid put on food to make it look attractive and taste better.
n.a smooth, often glossy coating applied to food items, such as a sugar syrup on donuts or a balsamic reduction on meat.
Simple“The baker applied a sweet honey glaze to the warm cinnamon rolls.”
In context“The chef finished the roasted ham with a maple and clove glaze, ensuring a rich mahogany sheen for the final presentation.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a thin layer of glass-like material used to make pottery shiny and waterproof.
n.a vitreous substance fused to the surface of pottery or porcelain through firing to provide decoration or impermeability.
Simple“She chose a deep blue glaze for the clay bowl she made in class.”
In context“The artisan experimented with a crackle glaze, hoping the controlled fractures would enhance the antique aesthetic of the ceramic vase.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.praising someone way too much, often in a way that feels fake or embarrassing.
n.excessive, sycophantic, or performative praise, typically directed toward a celebrity or influencer.
Simple“The comments were full of glaze for the rapper's new song.”
In context“The streamer's fans were accused of constant glaze, refusing to acknowledge any flaws in his controversial performance.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.when your eyes stop showing interest and you look like you are daydreaming.
v.to become glassy or expressionless, typically due to boredom, fatigue, or lack of concentration.
Simple“His eyes began to glaze as the teacher explained the long math problem.”
In context“Halfway through the technical briefing, the investors' eyes began to glaze, signaling their loss of interest in the granular data.”
Usageoften used as the phrasal verb 'glaze over'
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to put glass into the frames of windows or doors.
v.to fit a window or other structure with glass panes.
Simple“The builders will glaze the new office windows next Tuesday.”
In context“The restoration project required specialists to glaze the cathedral's arched frames using traditional leaded techniques.”
Synonyms
From Middle English glasen, from glas (“glass”) (Modern English glass), from Old English glæs, from Proto-Germanic *glasą. Related to glazen. In the sense of "overcompliment", originated in November 2021 and popularized throughout 2022, and allegedly "follows the visual of a donut being glazed". The noun is from the verb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.