glasses
glasses — noun
1. a device worn over the eyes, with two lenses held in a frame that rests on the n
a device worn over the eyes, with two lenses held in a frame that rests on the nose and hooks behind the ears, used to help a person see better or to protect the eyes from bright light or debris.
Mei-Lin put on her glasses and looked at the menu.
a pair of glasses + put on
The librarian pushed her glasses up her nose and smiled at the children.
push up one's glasses
I need a new pair of glasses because my old ones are scratched.
Wei-Chen could not read the bus number without his glasses.
Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun on bright summer days.
- spectacles
more formal or old-fashioned term, often used in British English
- eyewear
general, more technical or commercial term
文法句型
used with plural verb
a pair of glasses
用法筆記
Always used in plural form. The singular 'glass' does NOT mean one lens of eyewear. To refer to a single item, say 'a pair of glasses' or a specific type such as 'sunglasses' or 'reading glasses'.
常見錯誤
2. an optical tool that uses two sets of lenses side by side to make distant object
an optical tool that uses two sets of lenses side by side to make distant objects look larger and closer, also called field glasses or binoculars.
Tomas raised his field glasses and scanned the mountain ridge for deer.
The birdwatcher carried a pair of field glasses to every nature reserve she visited.
a pair of field glasses
Through his field glasses, the captain could see the enemy ship on the horizon.
The ornithologist adjusted the focus on her field glasses to get a clearer view of the eagle.
- binoculars
the standard modern term; much more common than 'field glasses'
- field glasses
an older term, still used but less common
文法句型
a pair of glasses (binoculars)
用法筆記
In this sense 'glasses' is almost always paired with 'field' — 'field glasses'. The standalone 'binoculars' is far more common in modern English.
3. a hard, usually see-through substance made by heating sand and other materials t
a hard, usually see-through substance made by heating sand and other materials to a very high temperature, used to make windows, bottles, mirrors, and many other objects.
The rain tapped against the glass window while Amina read her book by the fire.
Be careful — that glass vase is very fragile and could break easily.
glass + noun: glass vase
The artist blew hot melted glass into the shape of a blue fish.
Most glass bottles can be recycled instead of thrown away.
A sharp piece of broken glass cut the bottom of the boy's bare foot.
文法句型
glass + noun (compound noun)
用法筆記
This is the uncountable material sense. It is grammatically singular ('glass is fragile'), unlike the eyewear sense which is always plural ('glasses are needed'). The compound form 'glass + noun' (glass table, glass door) is extremely common.
常見錯誤
4. a container made of glass, plastic, or another material, shaped like a cylinder
a container made of glass, plastic, or another material, shaped like a cylinder with no handle, used to hold liquids for drinking, or the amount that such a container holds.
The waiter filled each wine glass halfway and handed one to the guest.
Chinara placed two clean glasses on the kitchen table and poured lemonade into them.
Diego drank a tall glass of cold milk after his run in the park.
Little Sofia accidentally knocked her glass off the table and it cracked on the floor.
The bartender polished each champagne glass until it sparkled under the light.
The doctor told Mateo to drink at least eight glasses of water every day.
The baker added two glasses of milk to the mixing bowl, just as the recipe said.
Each person at the table was served a full glass of fresh orange juice.
The recipe calls for one glass of warm water and a spoonful of honey.
文法句型
a glass of [liquid]
glass + noun for type
用法筆記
A 'glass' in this sense can be made of materials other than glass, such as plastic. The structure 'a glass of water/juice/wine' can refer to either the container itself or the amount of liquid it contains — the measurement reading (as in 'drink eight glasses of water a day') is especially common in recipes and health advice.
常見錯誤
5. a piece of glass with a reflective coating on its back, used as a mirror; now co
a piece of glass with a reflective coating on its back, used as a mirror; now considered old-fashioned or literary in this sense.
In the old tale, the queen gazed into her glass and asked who was the fairest in the land.
literary use: looking glass
A young woman studied her reflection in the tall looking glass that stood in the corner of her bedroom.
The poet wrote of a lady who saw her fate in the dark glass of her chamber.
- mirror
the everyday modern term
- looking glass
the same literary/dated meaning, often used in fairy tales
用法筆記
Almost exclusively encountered in older literature or fixed phrases like 'looking glass'. In modern everyday English, 'mirror' is the standard word. The phrase 'people who live in glass houses should not throw stones' uses the material sense, not this sense.
6. a lightweight, strong material made from thin threads of glass pressed together
a lightweight, strong material made from thin threads of glass pressed together with plastic, used for making boats, car parts, and other products.
The surfboard was made of lightweight fiberglass that made it easy to carry to the beach.
Workers applied layers of fiberglass to repair the car bumper, wearing protective gloves to handle the rough material.
The roof panels are made of fiberglass that can withstand heavy rain and strong winds.
Insulation in the attic was made from spun glass that kept the house warm in winter.
- fiberglass
the full, more precise term
- glass-reinforced plastic
the technical term for this composite material
用法筆記
In this sense 'glass' is a shortened form of 'fiberglass' (or 'glass fibre' in British English). It is uncountable and takes a singular verb.
7. an illegal and highly addictive drug that appears in the form of small crystals,
an illegal and highly addictive drug that appears in the form of small crystals, also known as crystal methamphetamine or crystal meth.
The news report said police had found a large amount of glass hidden in the back of the truck.
slang: glass = crystal meth
Recovery programs help people who have become dependent on glass to rebuild their lives.
The documentary showed how the use of glass has affected communities across the country.
- crystal meth
the more common term for this drug
- methamphetamine
the formal chemical name
- ice
another slang term for the same substance
用法筆記
This is street slang. It is not appropriate for formal writing or conversation. The term 'crystal meth' or 'methamphetamine' is clearer and more widely understood. This meaning may be unfamiliar to many English speakers in non-English-speaking environments.
glasses — verb
1. to fit a window, door, or other opening with a pane of glass; to cover a surface
to fit a window, door, or other opening with a pane of glass; to cover a surface or frame with glass panels.
The old wooden greenhouse was glassed by a local craftsman last spring.
passive: was glassed
The couple decided to glass the entire south-facing wall of their apartment to let in more sunlight.
The front of the shop was glassed in to display the new collection of shoes and bags.
Once the balcony is glassed, it can be used as a small sunroom all year round.
- glaze
the more common term for fitting windows with glass, especially in the context of windows or pottery
文法句型
glass + object (window, frame, building)
用法筆記
Often used in the phrasal form 'glass in' (to enclose an area with glass). The passive construction 'is glassed' or 'was glassed' is very common.
2. to take on a fixed, shiny, and expressionless appearance, especially said of a p
to take on a fixed, shiny, and expressionless appearance, especially said of a person's eyes when they are very tired, in shock, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
After the long night shift, the nurse's eyes began to glass over and he could barely stay awake.
phrasal verb: glass over
When the patient heard the bad news, her eyes glassed and she stared silently at the wall.
The old man's eyes glassed over as he remembered the war years.
As the drug took effect, the patient's eyes began to glass over and his speech became slow and unclear.
- glaze over
more common; 'his eyes glazed over' means the same thing
文法句型
subject (eyes) + glass (over)
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'over' (glass over). The subject is nearly always 'eyes'. This sense describes a physical change in appearance, not an emotion.
3. to reflect an image or light, like a mirror does; to show a mirrored image of so
to reflect an image or light, like a mirror does; to show a mirrored image of something.
The calm lake glassed the image of the full moon above the mountains.
literary: glass = reflect
Polished black stone glassed the passengers as they walked through the terminal.
The windows of the tall office building glassed the orange glow of the setting sun.
文法句型
glass + object (light, image)
用法筆記
Highly poetic or literary usage. In everyday English, 'reflect' or 'mirror' are the standard verbs. This sense is virtually never used in conversation.
4. to look at something using binoculars or a similar optical instrument; to scan a
to look at something using binoculars or a similar optical instrument; to scan an area through field glasses.
The sailors glassed the horizon for any sign of land after weeks at sea.
glass = look through binoculars
From the watchtower, the ranger glassed the forest for smoke or fire.
Hunters often glass an entire hillside before deciding which trail to follow.
文法句型
glass + object (a scene, the horizon, an animal)
用法筆記
Used primarily by people who spend time outdoors — hunters, birdwatchers, sailors, and military personnel. The object is typically a wide area or landscape being scanned.