water glass

American  

Or waterglass

noun

water glasses plural

1. a drinking glass; tumbler.

2. a glass container for holding water, as for growing bulbs, plants, or the like.

3. a glass tube used to indicate water level, as in a boiler.

4. a device for observing objects beneath the surface of the water, consisting essentially of an open tube or box with a glass bottom.

5. sodium silicate.

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water glass British  

noun

1. a viscous syrupy solution of sodium silicate in water: used as a protective coating for cement and a preservative, esp for eggs

2. another name for water clock water gauge

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• water glasses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of water glass

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

water glass

On his way, he spots a stray napkin and a water glass out of place.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2025

No water glass needed, in other words, because the door has disappeared.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 4, 2024

Yes, you can grab the nearest water glass, plop your flowers inside and call it a day.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 25, 2022

My water glass slid through my sweaty fingers, crashing to the floor.

From Salon ● Nov. 25, 2021

She picked the anchovies from her slices and dumped them into her water glass.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli