glass
glass — verb
1. to deliberately cut or injure a person with the jagged edge of a smashed bottle
to deliberately cut or injure a person with the jagged edge of a smashed bottle or any glass shard, typically during a fight in a pub, bar, or street.
Outside the crowded nightclub, a drunk man tried to glass Élise with a broken bottle.
glass + person + with + broken bottle
Shirin was glassed across the cheek during a bar fight and needed twenty stitches.
The police arrested two men for glassing a tourist near the train station.
gerund: glassing + person
The bouncer stopped the man before he could glass the bartender with a jagged bottle.
- glass someone in the face
- get glassed in a fight
- glass a bouncer
- glass a rival
Grammar Patterns
glass + person
glass + person + with + broken bottle
be glassed
Usage Note
Common in British news reports about pub fights and street violence. The passive form ('was glassed') is frequent when describing injuries. This sense is not used in American English.
Common Mistakes
2. to carefully examine an area of land by looking through binoculars, a telescope,
to carefully examine an area of land by looking through binoculars, a telescope, or a gun sight, usually in search of animals, people, or targets.
Sahil stood on the ridge and glassed the valley for any sign of deer.
glass + area + for + target
The hunter glassed the forest edge for nearly an hour before spotting movement.
Using a pair of binoculars, the birdwatcher glassed the distant marsh for rare waterfowl.
with binoculars + glass + location + for + target
Wren carefully glassed the open fields, looking for the lost hiker's tent.
The soldiers glassed the ridge line before deciding to advance through the pass.
- glass the valley/ridge/forest
- glass for deer/game/birds
- glass with binoculars
- scan
more common; does not specify the optical instrument
- survey
more formal; can mean examining in a general sense
- glass over
phrasal verb form with same meaning but different syntax
Grammar Patterns
glass + area/location
glass + for + target
glass + landscape + with + binoculars
Usage Note
Typical in hunting, birdwatching, and military reconnaissance. The object is usually a large area such as a valley, ridge, forest, or field. Can be used intransitively with 'for' ('glass for deer').
Common Mistakes
3. to fit a frame, window, or building with glass panels; to enclose or cover an op
to fit a frame, window, or building with glass panels; to enclose or cover an open area with a glass surface, typically to create indoor space while letting in light.
The builders glassed the south-facing wall to let in more winter sunlight.
glass + building part + purpose
Aunt Manuela plans to glass the balcony so the family can use it all year.
The old wooden porch was glassed in and turned into a bright sunroom.
passive: glassed in + transformation
Mayumi hired a contractor to glass the greenhouse frame last spring.
The architect suggested they glass over the courtyard to create an indoor garden.
phrasal: glass over + space
- glass in a porch/balcony
- glass over a courtyard
- glass a wall/frame
- glaze
more technical; specifically used in window and pottery contexts
- enclose with glass
periphrastic; explains rather than replaces the verb
- uncover
removing rather than adding a glass covering
Grammar Patterns
glass + object
be glassed in
be glassed over
Usage Note
Often combines with the particles 'in' ('glassed in' = enclosed with glass) and 'over' ('glassed over' = covered with a glass roof). The passive is common when describing completed buildings.
Common Mistakes
4. to become smooth, shiny, and hard like a glass surface, or for a liquid to freez
to become smooth, shiny, and hard like a glass surface, or for a liquid to freeze into a glass-like layer; also used figuratively for eyes losing expression and becoming fixed and lifeless.
The river's surface glassed over as the temperature dropped below zero.
glass over + weather condition
The ceramic glaze glassed into a hard, shiny coating when it was fired.
Nicholas's eyes glassed over as he listened to the long, dull lecture.
figurative: eyes glass over
The lava glassed into a smooth black rock as it slowly cooled.
Noa's gaze glassed over when the teacher started the third hour of grammar review.
- glass over with ice
- eyes glass over
- glass into a solid
- glass over with frost
- glaze over
more common for eyes becoming dull; same meaning
- freeze over
specific to liquid surfaces turning to ice
- harden
broader meaning; does not imply glass-like smoothness
Grammar Patterns
glass over
glass into
Usage Note
Most common with the particle 'over' when describing water freezing or eyes losing focus. With 'into', it describes materials transforming into a glass-like state through heat or firing.
Common Mistakes
glass — noun
1. a hard clear substance made by heating sand and other minerals until they melt a
a hard clear substance made by heating sand and other minerals until they melt and then cooling them quickly, used for making windows, bottles, mirrors, and similar everyday items
Harper recycled the glass bottles and jars from her kitchen last weekend.
glass bottles / glass jars (uncountable material noun)
A sharp piece of broken glass near the playground cut Nellie's finger.
collocation: broken glass / piece of glass
The old church tower had beautiful stained glass windows that let in colourful light.
collocation: stained glass windows
Esteban used a sheet of glass to cover the top of the wooden table.
collocation: sheet of glass
- broken glass
- sheet of glass
- piece of glass
- stained glass
- glass bottle
- glass jar
- glass window
Grammar Patterns
piece of glass
sheet of glass
stained glass
Usage Note
Uncountable when referring to the material itself. For individual items, use phrases like 'a piece of glass' or 'a sheet of glass'. Do not confuse with the countable 'a glass' (sense 4, a drinking container).
Common Mistakes
2. glassware in general — vases, bowls, ornaments, and other items fashioned from t
glassware in general — vases, bowls, ornaments, and other items fashioned from this material, treated as a single uncountable category
Indra polished the museum's antique glass until each piece shone under the lights.
glass as uncountable collective noun
Ignacio wrapped every piece of glass in bubble wrap before packing the boxes.
Jisoo collected Venetian glass from the eighteenth century and kept it on shelves.
Ayesha carefully washed the delicate crystal glass after the dinner party ended.
- antique glass
- Venetian glass
- crystal glass
- delicate glass
- cut glass
Grammar Patterns
[adjective] glass as collective uncountable
Usage Note
Always uncountable when referring to glass objects as a general group. Do not use 'a glass' to mean a single decorative piece — the countable form refers only to drinking containers (sense 4).
Common Mistakes
3. the protected environment inside a glass building or frame where plants are grow
the protected environment inside a glass building or frame where plants are grown, especially to shield them from cold or bad weather
Omar grew the orchids under glass to protect them during the winter months.
fixed phrase: under glass
Obi watered the young tomato seedlings in the glasshouse every morning.
compound noun: glasshouse
Eitan built a small glasshouse at the back of his garden for tropical plants.
Tropical plants grow well under glass even in cold northern climates.
- under glass
- glasshouse
- grown under glass
- greenhouse
a more common term for a glass building used for growing plants; 'glasshouse' is slightly more formal or technical
- conservatory
a glass room attached to a house, used for displaying plants rather than commercial growing
Grammar Patterns
under glass
in a glasshouse
4. a container with a flat bottom and thin sides, made from glass or a similar clea
a container with a flat bottom and thin sides, made from glass or a similar clear material, designed for holding a drink
Joaquín poured cold milk into a tall glass for his younger sister.
countable noun: a [adjective] glass
Before serving the meal, the waiter placed a wine glass on the table.
compound: wine glass
Dr. Park picked up a clean glass and held it up to the light.
The bartender poured beer into a chilled glass and slid it across the counter.
collocation: chilled glass
- wine glass
- water glass
- chilled glass
- clean glass
- empty glass
- tall glass
Grammar Patterns
a [adjective] glass
glass + of + [drink]
wine glass / water glass
Usage Note
Countable — you can say 'a glass' or 'two glasses'. When describing the material rather than the container, use the uncountable form (sense 1): compare 'a glass of water' (container) with 'a sheet of glass' (material).
Common Mistakes
5. the amount of liquid that fills a drinking container, or a serving of a drink me
the amount of liquid that fills a drinking container, or a serving of a drink measured by the container it comes in
Dr. Lin told his patient to drink at least eight glasses of water each day.
pattern: [number] glass[es] of [drink]
The host offered each guest a glass of sparkling wine at the party.
The recipe calls for two glasses of milk and one glass of flour.
The dinner guest asked for a glass of red wine to go with the pasta.
- glass of water
- glass of wine
- glass of milk
- glass of juice
- two glasses of
- three glasses of
Grammar Patterns
[number] + glass[es] + of + [drink]
Usage Note
Always followed by 'of' + a noun for the drink. The same form 'a glass of…' can be used for any liquid. This sense differs from sense 4 in that it focuses on the CONTENTS rather than the physical container: 'She broke a glass' (sense 4, container) vs 'She drank a glass of milk' (sense 5, amount).
Common Mistakes
6. two corrective or protective lenses mounted together and worn on the face so tha
two corrective or protective lenses mounted together and worn on the face so that each lens sits in front of one eye, helping the wearer see better or shielding the eyes from damage
Mr. Chen put on his reading glasses to look at the menu.
reading glasses
The optician recommended a new pair of glasses for the child.
pattern: a pair of glasses
The librarian pushed her glasses up her nose and continued reading.
Grandma wiped her glasses clean with a soft cloth before sewing.
- reading glasses
- sunglasses
- safety glasses
- a pair of glasses
- wear glasses
- put on glasses
- take off glasses
- spectacles
a more formal or old-fashioned term for glasses
- eyewear
a broader category that includes glasses, sunglasses, safety goggles, and contact lenses
Grammar Patterns
a pair of glasses
wear glasses
reading glasses
Usage Note
Always used in the plural form 'glasses'. The singular 'glass' never means a single piece of eyewear. When referring to one unit, use 'a pair of glasses' or simply 'glasses' with a plural verb: 'My glasses are on the table.'
Common Mistakes
7. a device that measures the pressure of the air, traditionally used on ships or i
a device that measures the pressure of the air, traditionally used on ships or in homes to help predict whether the weather will be good or bad
The captain tapped the glass and announced that a storm was approaching.
nautical: tapped the glass referring to a barometer
Bao checked the glass every morning before deciding whether to carry an umbrella.
A rapid drop in the glass often signals that rain is on its way.
pattern: a drop/rise in the glass
Nikos's grandfather used to read the glass and predict storms more accurately than the radio weather report.
- the glass drops/falls/rises/climbs
- read the glass
- tap the glass
- a falling/rising glass
- barometer
the standard modern term; 'glass' is more old-fashioned
- weather glass
a slightly more explicit term, but equally traditional
Grammar Patterns
the + glass
glass + verb (drop, rise, fall)
Usage Note
This sense is most common in nautical or historical contexts. The verb that follows the subject is usually one of motion: the glass drops, falls, rises, or climbs.
Common Mistakes
8. a piece of glass with a reflective surface that shows an image of whatever is in
a piece of glass with a reflective surface that shows an image of whatever is in front of it
Élise studied her reflection in the glass before heading out to dinner.
formal register: reflection in the glass instead of mirror
The antique glass above the fireplace is framed in carved mahogany.
Christopher caught a glimpse of himself in the glass as he walked through the hotel lobby.
A crack ran across the glass in the dressing room, distorting every face that looked into it.
describing physical damage to a mirror
- in the glass
- reflection in the glass
- antique glass
- cracked glass
- mirror
the ordinary modern word for this object
- looking glass
an old-fashioned or literary term for a mirror
Grammar Patterns
in/into the glass
glass + be + [adjective]
Usage Note
In modern everyday speech, mirror is the usual word. Using glass for 'mirror' sounds literary or old-fashioned, and often appears in descriptions of older houses or formal writing.
Common Mistakes
9. an optical tool whose built-in lenses make distant objects appear closer and lar
an optical tool whose built-in lenses make distant objects appear closer and larger, such as a telescope or a pair of binoculars
Hao focused the glass on the distant mountain peak and spotted a thin trail of smoke.
telescope: focus the glass on [target]
The birdwatcher raised the glass and scanned the treetops for the rare kingfisher.
Antonia handed the glass to her companion and pointed toward the lighthouse on the cliff.
Through the glass the sailors could make out the shape of a ship on the horizon.
pattern: through the glass + [observation]
- focus the glass
- raise the glass
- through the glass
- field glasses
- opera glasses
- binoculars
the standard modern word for a hand-held dual-lens viewer
- telescope
a single-tube instrument for viewing very distant objects, especially in astronomy
- spyglass
a small hand-held telescope, now old-fashioned
- field glasses
another term for binoculars, especially for outdoor use
Grammar Patterns
through the glass
focus/raise/lower + the glass
Usage Note
When referring to binoculars, the plural form glasses is more common: field glasses, opera glasses. The singular a glass usually refers to a single telescope or a spyglass.
Common Mistakes
This phrase describes a person who always sees the negative side of a situation.
When the project failed, Tom said the glass is half-empty.
Maya's glass is half-empty attitude makes her team feel discouraged.
This phrase describes a person who always sees the positive side of a situation.
Even after losing the game, Coach Lee's glass is half-full.
Sara always sees the good in things; her glass is half-full.
This means you should not criticize others if you have similar faults yourself.
Brian told me I was messy, but people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Remember, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, so be careful.
To lift your glass as a gesture of respect or good wishes before drinking.
At the wedding, the father raised his glass to the happy couple.
Let's all raise our glasses to celebrate Diego's promotion.
glass — idiom
glass ceiling
idioman unspoken, invisible barrier within a company or organization that prevents women and members of minority groups from rising to the highest levels of leadership or management, even though they have the necessary qualifications and experience.
Soraya worked at the bank for 15 years but never reached the top — she said she kept hitting the glass ceiling.
The company hired a consultant to find out why so many women leave before reaching senior management, and the report pointed directly to a glass ceiling.
Asher was the first person from his community to become a vice president, and he promised to help break the glass ceiling for others.
glass — biographical name
1. the surname of Philip Glass (born 1937), an American composer whose repetitive,
the surname of Philip Glass (born 1937), an American composer whose repetitive, layered style of music — known as minimalism — is widely used in operas, film scores, and concert works.
Lauren listened to Glass's opera 'Einstein on the Beach' for her music class.
surname in possessive form + composer's work
The film score by Glass won praise for its hypnotic, simple melodies.
Glass + film-score context
Reuben wrote a report on how Glass influenced modern orchestral music.
Nala found a recording of Glass's violin concerto at the library.
- Glass's opera
- Glass's score
- the music of Glass
- Glass's style
Usage Note
When referring to the composer in text, either 'Glass' (the surname alone) or 'Philip Glass' (full name) is common. Musical works are typically introduced with a possessive form, as in 'Glass's opera'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- glassyadjectiveB2
- glasswarenounB2
- glassfulnounC1
- glasshousenounC1
- glassblowernounC1
- glassblowingnounC1
- glass ceilingidiomB2
- glass-eyedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words relate to the hard, transparent material, but they differ in scope and use. Glass is the general term for the material made from melted sand. Crystal is a high-quality type of glass that contains lead oxide, making it heavier, more sparkling, and more expensive — used for fine wine glasses and chandeliers ("a crystal vase" emphasises luxury, while "a glass vase" is ordinary). Pane refers specifically to a single sheet of glass fitted into a window frame ("the window pane is cracked"), not to the material in general. Vitreous is a technical adjective (from Latin vitrum, "glass") used in science and medicine, as in "vitreous humour" (the gel inside the eye) or "vitreous china" (a glass-like ceramic). In everyday conversation, glass covers all these meanings; the others add precision for specific contexts.
Common collocations
Nouns
- window
- bottle
- door
- fragment
- shard
- jar
- sheet
- surface
- ceiling
Adverbs
- carefully
- safely
- neatly
- coldly
Phrases
- a piece of glass
- a shard of glass
- a sheet of glass
- a pane of glass
- a glass of water
- under glass
- behind glass
Prepositions
- through
- of
- in
- into
- with
Etymology
The word glass comes from Old English glæs, which is related to Proto-Germanic *glasam. It is connected to an ancient root meaning "to shine, glow, or gleam" — the material was named for its bright, transparent appearance. The meaning "drinking vessel" appeared around the 1200s, "eyeglasses" by the 1600s, and "barometer" by the 1700s. The verb sense meaning "to scan with binoculars" developed in the 1800s among hunters and birdwatchers.