vitreous

Everyday

1. (science) Like glass, or made of glass: hard, shiny and often see-through. tree →
2. (science) The vitreous humour (or vitreous body) is the clear jelly that fills the inside of the eyeball. tree →

In the lessons

A science and technical word. In lessons on the eye, the vitreous humour is the clear jelly that keeps the eye round and lets light pass to the back. In geology, a mineral with a glassy shine has a "vitreous lustre". In everyday life, "vitreous china" is the shiny material used for toilets and basins, and "vitreous enamel" covers old saucepans and signs.

Examples

• The vitreous humour is a clear jelly inside the eye. tree →
• Quartz has a vitreous shine, like glass. tree →
• The toilet is made of vitreous china. tree →
• Light passes through the vitreous jelly to reach the back of the eye. tree →
• The old metal sign was coated in vitreous enamel. tree →
• The rock had a vitreous look where lava had cooled quickly. tree →

Note

Pronounced VIT-ree-us. It is a technical word; in everyday talk say "glassy". "Humour" in "vitreous humour" is an old word for a body fluid, not a joke.