vitreous

vitreous
\ \ [17] Latin vitrum meant ‘glass’ (it may be the same word as vitrumwoad, plant producing blue dye’, the link being the bluishgreen colour of glass, and it might even be distantly related to English woad itself). From it was derived vitreusclear, transparent’, which gave English vitreous. The sulphates of various metals have a glassy appearance, and so in medieval Latin the term vitriolum (a derivative of vitrum) was applied to them – whence English vitriol [14].
\ \ Cf.VITRIOL

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Vitreous — Vit re*ous, a. [L. vitreous, from vitrum glass; perhaps akin to videre to see (see {Vision}). Cf. {Varnish}.] 1. Consisting of, or resembling, glass; glassy; as, vitreous rocks. [1913 Webster] 2. Of or pertaining to glass; derived from glass; as …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Vitreous — refers to a material in an amorphous, glassy state (in contrast to a crystalline state). In such a state, the constituent atoms do not exhibit the long range order that is characteristic of crystals. However, they still exhibit short range order… …   Wikipedia

  • vitreous — (adj.) 1640s, from L. vitreus of glass, glassy, from vitreum glass, which perhaps was so called for its color (Cf. vitrium woad ). Vitreous humor attested from 1660s …   Etymology dictionary

  • vitreous — [vi′trē əs] adj. [L vitreus, glassy < vitrum, glass] 1. a) of, having the nature of, or like glass; glassy b) derived from or made of glass 2. of the vitreous humor vitreousness n …   English World dictionary

  • vitreous — ● vitreous nom masculin (mot américain) Nom générique de produits céramiques se situant entre les faïences fines feldspathiques et les grès fins blancs …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • vitreous — ► ADJECTIVE 1) like glass in appearance or physical properties. 2) (of a substance) derived from or containing glass. ORIGIN Latin vitreus, from vitrum glass …   English terms dictionary

  • Vitreous — A clear, jelly like substance that fills the middle of the eye. Also called the vitreous humor, humor in medicine referring to a fluid (or semifluid) substance. * * * 1. Glassy; resembling glass. 2. SYN: v. body. [L. vitreus, glassy, fr. vitrum,… …   Medical dictionary

  • vitreous — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from vitrum glass Date: 14th century 1. a. resembling glass (as in color, composition, brittleness, or luster) ; glassy < vitreous rocks > b. characterized by low porosity and usually… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • vitreous — 1. adjective a) Of, or resembling glass; glassy b) Of, or relating to the vitreous humor of the eye 2. noun The vitreous humor …   Wiktionary

  • vitreous —   a. pertaining to or like glass.    ♦ vitreal, a.    ♦ vitrescent, a. becoming vitreous; able to be made into glass.    ♦ vitrescible, a. vitrifiable.    ♦ vitric, a. glassy.    ♦ vitrics, n. study of glassware.    ♦ vitrifacture, n. making of… …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • vitreous — adj. 1 of, or of the nature of, glass. 2 like glass in hardness, brittleness, transparency, structure, etc. (vitreous enamel). Phrases and idioms: vitreous humour (or body) Anat. a transparent jelly like tissue filling the eyeball. Derivatives:… …   Useful english dictionary

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