Word
porcelain
Phoneticsporce·lain
US/ˈpɔɹsəɫən/
UK/pˈɔːsɪlˌɪn/
Definitions
01the material
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a strong but delicate white ceramic material used for making high-quality dishes and ornaments.
n. a hard, white, translucent ceramic made by firing pure clay at very high temperatures. Uncountable in its material sense.
“The museum has a beautiful collection of ancient Chinese porcelain.”
“The artisan explained that the translucent quality of the porcelain was achieved through a precise mixture of kaolin and feldspar fired at extreme heat.”
02objects made of porcelain
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. items like plates, cups, or statues that are made from this white ceramic.
n. individual objects or a collection of items, particularly tableware or art, manufactured from porcelain. Often used as a collective noun.
“We only use the fine porcelain for special family dinners.”
“The auction house specialised in eighteenth-century European porcelain, including several rare figurines from the Meissen factory.”
03to coat with enamel
C2 · Proficiency Technology Technical
v. to cover a surface with a hard, shiny coating that looks like porcelain.
v. to apply a porcelain enamel coating to a surface, typically metal, for protection or decoration.
“The manufacturer decided to porcelain the interior of the oven for easier cleaning.”
“Industrial vats are often porcelained to provide a non-reactive surface that can withstand corrosive chemical processes.”
Real-World Examples
“I sold a couple of porcelain Ming dynasty lions for £60, thinking they were fakes.” “Rachel Kneebone review – who knew porcelain could be so edgy, nerve-wracking and marvellous?” Etymology
From Middle French porcelaine (“cowrie, wampum; china, chinaware”), from Old Italian porcellana (“cowrie; china, chinaware”), from porcella (“female piglet”) + -ana. The material was so called because of its resemblance to the shell of the cowrie. Why the cowrie was named with a word meaning “piglet” is unclear.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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