glass string: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “glass string” mean?
A hard, brittle, transparent material made by melting sand with soda, lime, etc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hard, brittle, transparent material made by melting sand with soda, lime, etc., used to make windows, containers, etc.
A container for drinking from, typically made of this material; the amount such a container holds; the material itself as a substance; a mirror or lens; (verb) to fit or cover with glass.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'glasses' for spectacles. Slight preference in UK for 'glass' as a count noun for drinking vessel ('a glass'), while US may also use 'cup' or 'tumbler'.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. Can connote fragility, transparency, or elegance depending on context.
Frequency
Extremely high and consistent frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “glass string” in a Sentence
[V] glass something (in/over)[N] glass of [liquid][ADJ] + glass (e.g., broken glass)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “glass string” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They plan to glass in the balcony to make a conservatory.
- The cabinet was beautifully glassed.
American English
- They're going to glass over the patio for a sunroom.
- The museum case was carefully glassed.
adjective
British English
- They installed glass doors in the renovation.
- The glass bottle was recycled.
American English
- The building has a stunning glass facade.
- She bought glass ornaments.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for an invisible barrier to advancement (e.g., 'break the glass ceiling').
Academic
Material science studies composition and properties of glass.
Everyday
Requesting a drink ('Can I have a glass of water?'), warning about danger ('Mind the broken glass!').
Technical
In construction ('double-glazed glass'), optics ('optical glass'), chemistry ('borosilicate glass').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “glass string”
- *'I need a new glass for my eyes.' (Incorrect: should be 'a new pair of glasses').
- *'The table is made of a glass.' (Incorrect as material noun: 'made of glass').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a material, it's uncountable (e.g., 'made of glass'). As a drinking container, it's countable (e.g., 'two glasses of wine').
'Glass' typically refers to the material or a drinking vessel. 'Glasses' (almost always plural) refers to spectacles for eyesight.
It's a metaphor for an unacknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, especially affecting women and minorities.
Yes, though less common. It means to fit or cover something with glass (e.g., 'to glass a porch').
A hard, brittle, transparent material made by melting sand with soda, lime, etc.
Glass string is usually neutral in register.
Glass string: in British English it is pronounced /ɡlɑːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡlæs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.”
- “glass ceiling”
- “see the world through rose-tinted glasses”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Glass is Class when it's clear. A GLAss is something you can see through (GLimpse).
Conceptual Metaphor
FRAGILITY IS GLASS ('fragile relationship'), TRANSPARENCY IS GLASS ('transparent government'), CONTAINER IS GLASS ('a glass of confidence').
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones' mean?