water glass

American  

Or waterglass

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of water glass

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

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

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2025

On those days, letting “the restaurant team whisk you away,” as Hawley described it, while your water glass never empties and you take your time selecting each course, is the whole point of eating out.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 29, 2024

These connections, called neuromuscular junctions, are how the brain signals muscles to contract, allowing us to pick up a water glass, jog to the mailbox or hoist a toddler into a car seat.

From Science Daily • Oct. 11, 2023

Before I sang, I pulled my usual, crystal water glass out of the cupboard, plus one for Nancy; but instead of filling it with water, I poured orange Pedialyte into both.

From Salon • Nov. 28, 2022

It’s low and tinny, but she puts the phone into an empty water glass, which makes the sound louder.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy