looking glass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary / Archaic
Quick answer
What does “looking glass” mean?
An old-fashioned or literary term for a mirror, especially one made of glass.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An old-fashioned or literary term for a mirror, especially one made of glass.
It often carries a metaphorical meaning of reflection, reversal, or an alternative reality, popularized by Lewis Carroll's 'Through the Looking-Glass'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. The term is equally literary/archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly associated with Lewis Carroll's work. In both varieties, it suggests fantasy, curiosity, or self-reflection.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary literal use. Slightly more frequent in literary or metaphorical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “looking glass” in a Sentence
look into + [the] looking glasspeer through + [the] looking glass[the] looking glass + of + [abstract noun] (e.g., the looking glass of memory)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “looking glass” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The play presented a looking-glass version of Victorian society.
American English
- Her novel is set in a looking-glass world where time runs backward.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in a highly creative marketing context (e.g., 'see the market through a looking glass').
Academic
Used in literary criticism, psychology (e.g., 'looking-glass self' in sociology), and philosophy to discuss perception and reality.
Everyday
Extremely rare. If used, it's in a self-consciously literary or whimsical way.
Technical
Not used in technical fields except in historical descriptions of objects.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “looking glass”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “looking glass”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “looking glass”
- Using it as a common term for a modern bathroom mirror. Using 'looking glass' as a verb (e.g., 'I looking glass myself').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, literally. However, its contemporary use is almost entirely metaphorical, inspired by literature.
It would sound archaic or intentionally literary. 'Mirror' is the standard, neutral term.
It means entering a situation or world that is strange, illogical, or the opposite of what is normal.
It's a sociological concept by Charles Cooley describing how our self grows from imagining how we appear to others.
An old-fashioned or literary term for a mirror, especially one made of glass.
Looking glass is usually literary / archaic in register.
Looking glass: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlʊkɪŋ ɡlɑːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlʊkɪŋ ɡlæs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Through the looking glass (into a strange, reversed world)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine Alice LOOKING into a GLASS (mirror) and stepping through it into Wonderland.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND/REALITY IS A MIRROR (that can distort or reveal).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern association of the term 'looking glass'?