glaze

American  

[gleyz] / gleɪz /

verb (used with object)

glazed, glazing

1. to furnish or fill with glass.

   to glaze a window.

2. to give a vitreous surface or coating to (a ceramic or the like), as by the application of a substance or by fusion of the body.

3. to cover with a smooth, glossy surface or coating.

4. Cooking. to coat (a food) with sugar, a sugar syrup, or some other glossy, edible substance.

5. Fine Arts. to cover (a painted surface or parts of it) with a thin layer of transparent color in order to modify the tone.

6. to give a glassy surface to, as by polishing.

7. to give a coating of ice to (frozen food) by dipping in water.

8. to grind (cutlery blades) in preparation for finishing.

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verb (used without object)

glazed, glazing

1. to become glazed or glassy.

   Their eyes glazed over as the lecturer droned on.

2. (of a grinding wheel) to lose abrasive quality through polishing of the surface from wear.

noun

1. a smooth, glossy surface or coating.

2. the substance for producing such a coating.

3. Ceramics.

   1. a vitreous layer or coating on a piece of pottery.

   2. the substance of which such a layer or coating is made.

4. Fine Arts. a thin layer of transparent color spread over a painted surface.

5. a smooth, lustrous surface on certain fabrics, produced by treating the material with a chemical and calendering.

6. Cooking.

   1. a substance used to coat a food, especially sugar or sugar syrup.

   2. stock cooked down to a thin paste for applying to the surface of meats.

7. especially British, glazed frost.  Also called silver frost, silver thaw, verglas.  Also called glaze ice,.  a thin coating of ice on terrestrial objects, caused by rain that freezes on impact.

glaze British  

/ ɡleɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to fit or cover with glass

2. (tr) ceramics to cover with a vitreous solution, rendering impervious to liquid and smooth to the touch

3. (tr) to cover (a painting) with a layer of semitransparent colour to modify the tones

4. (tr) to cover (foods) with a shiny coating by applying beaten egg, sugar, etc

5. (tr) to make glossy or shiny

6. to become or cause to become glassy

   his eyes were glazing over

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noun

1. ceramics

   1. a vitreous or glossy coating

   2. the substance used to produce such a coating

2. a semitransparent coating applied to a painting to modify the tones

3. a smooth lustrous finish on a fabric produced by applying various chemicals

4. something used to give a glossy surface to foods

   a syrup glaze

Other Word Forms

• glazed adjective
• glazer noun
• glazily adverb
• glaziness noun
• glazy adjective
• reglaze verb (used with object)
• semiglaze noun

Etymology

Origin of glaze

1325–75; Middle English glasen, derivative of glas glass

Example Sentences

They’re coated with a sweet glaze that tastes like peanuts and honey.

From Literature

“The letters and numbers and percentage rates. My eyes glaze over.”

From MarketWatch

His producer met them with an armload of fluffy white towels, hot coffee, and a dozen glazed donuts.

From Literature

One wears sprinkles like confetti or a glaze sticky as the night and waits under hard light at an airport coffee counter.

From Salon

Melted butter glazed his fingers, which he licked, one by one.

From Literature

Related Words

• enamel
• sheen