English Explanatory Dictionary

vitreous

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Of or resembling glass; glassy.
  2. Of or relating to the vitreous humor of the eye.
  3. Having a shiny nonporous surface.
  4. Of a semi-crystalline substance where the atoms exhibit short-range order, but without the long-range order of a crystal.
  5. With a glass-like texture, often referring to volcanic rocks that cooled too quickly for crystals to form.
  6. Positive (of electric charge).
noun
  1. The vitreous humor.

Pronunciation

/ˈvɪtriəs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-vitreous.wav

Word forms

vitreous more vitreous most vitreous vitreouses

Etymology

From Middle French vitreux, from Latin vitreus (“glassy, transparent”), from vitrum (“glass”). The terms vitreous (positive) and resinous (negative) electricity were coined in 1733 by Charles François de Cisternay du Fay, who studied the different behaviour of glass and resin when rubbed with silk and fur, respectively.

Synonyms

shiny smooth

Antonyms

resinous

Related words

vitreous enamel vitreousness vitrifaction vitrifacture vitrification vitrify vitriolic

Derived words

vitreous body vitreous enamel vitreous fluid vitreous humour vitreous humor vitreous jelly vitreouslike vitreously vitreousness vitreous touch syndrome
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