vitreous
Americanadjective
-
of the nature of or resembling glass, as in transparency, brittleness, hardness, glossiness, etc..
vitreous china.
-
of or relating to glass.
-
obtained from or containing glass.
adjective
-
of, relating to, or resembling glass
-
made of, derived from, or containing glass
-
of or relating to the vitreous humour or vitreous body
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vitreous
1640–50; < Latin vitreus, equivalent to vitr ( um ) glass + -eus -eous
Explanation
Something that has the characteristics of glass — hard, brittle, glossy, possibly transparent — can be said to be vitreous, or glasslike. A vitreous surface works well for a kitchen counter. The adjective vitreous, which appeared in the 1640s, is from the Latin vitrum, "glass." Since the 1660s, the gel that fills the eye between the lens and the retina has been known as the "vitreous humor," the "vitreous body," or simply "the vitreous," presumably for the gel's clear, glassine appearance. If the vitreous breaks down, becoming more liquid than gel (usually due to aging or an injury), it can be disrupted, creating vision problems.
Vocabulary lists containing vitreous
100 SAT Words Beginning with "V"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Cosmos
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Walden
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from the inner wall of the eye and moves into the vitreous cavity, leading to detachment and potentially resulting in blindness in severe cases.
From Science Daily • Mar. 25, 2024
In fact, London’s metropolitan government recently moved downstream to another vitreous structure — more angular and less vulnerable to anatomical nicknames — alongside the Royal Victoria Dock.
From New York Times • May 30, 2023
One approach is a surgery called a vitrectomy—not to be a confused with a vasectomy, though neither are a walk in the park—which involves scooping out the vitreous and replacing it with a saline solution.
From Slate • Nov. 28, 2018
Its cladding is not generic glass and steel, but includes strips of white vitreous enamel overlaid with big bronze coloured X-shaped struts that stiffen the structure.
From The Guardian • Dec. 6, 2015
That’s called vitreous fluid, I thought with clarity.
From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
