glass embolism - definition of glass embolism by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

glass (gl

1. Any of a large class of materials with highly variable mechanical and optical properties that solidify from the molten state without crystallization, are typically made by silicates fusing with boric oxide, aluminum oxide, or phosphorus pentoxide, are generally hard, brittle, and transparent or translucent, and are considered to be supercooled liquids rather than true solids.

2. Something usually made of glass, especially:

a. A drinking vessel.

b. A mirror.

c. A barometer.

d. A window or windowpane.

a. glasses A pair of lenses mounted in a light frame, used to correct faulty vision or protect the eyes.

b. A binocular or field glass. Often used in the plural.

c. A device, such as a monocle or spyglass, containing a lens or lenses and used as an aid to vision.

4. The quantity contained by a drinking vessel; a glassful.

5. Objects made of glass; glassware.

adj.

1. Made or consisting of glass.

2. Fitted with panes of glass; glazed.

v. glassed, glass·ing, glass·es

v.tr.

a. To enclose or encase with glass.

b. To put into a glass container.

c. To provide with glass or glass parts.

2. To make glassy; glaze.

a. To see reflected, as in a mirror.

b. To reflect.

4. To scan (a tract of land or forest, for example) with an optical instrument.

v.intr.

1. To become glassy.

2. To use an optical instrument, as in looking for game.

[Middle English glas, from Old English glæs; see ghel-² in Indo-European roots.]

glass

Noun

1. a hard brittle transparent solid, consisting of metal silicates or similar compounds

2. a drinking vessel made of glass

3. the amount contained in a drinking glass: a glass of wine

4. objects made of glass, such as drinking glasses and bowls [Old English glæs]

glass (gl

A usually transparent or translucent material that has no crystalline structure yet behaves like a solid. Common glass is generally composed of a silicate (such as silicon oxide, or quartz) combined with an alkali and sometimes other substances. The glass used in windows and windshields, called soda glass, is made by melting a silicate with sodium carbonate (soda) and calcium oxide (lime). Other types of glass are made by adding other chemical compounds. Adding boron oxide causes some silicon atoms to be replaced by boron atoms, resulting in a tougher glass that remains solid at high temperatures, used for cooking utensils and scientific apparatuses. Glass used for decorative purposes often has iron in it to alter its optical properties.

A Closer Look Common sand and glass are both made primarily of silicon and oxygen, yet sand is opaque and glass is transparent. Glass owes its transparency partly to the fact that it is not a typical solid. On the molecular level, solids usually have a highly regular, three-dimensional crystalline structure; the regularities distributed throughout the solid act as mirrors that scatter incoming light. Glass, however, consists of molecules which, though relatively motionless like a typical solid, are not arranged in regular patterns and thus exhibit little scattering; light passes directly through. At a specific temperature, called the melting point, the intermolecular forces holding together the components of a typical solid can no longer maintain the regular structure, which then breaks down, and the material undergoes a phase transition from solid to liquid. The phase transition in glass, however, depends on how quickly the glass is heated (or how quickly it cools), due to its irregular solid structure.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	glass - a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure drinking glass, glass - a container for holding liquids while drinking glassware, glasswork - an article of tableware made of glass plate glass, sheet glass - glass formed into large thin sheets natural glass - magma of any composition that cooled very rapidly milk glass, opal glass - a milky white translucent or opaque glass optical glass - clear homogeneous glass of known refractive index; used to make lenses crown glass - a glass blown into a globe which is later flattened and spun to form a disk soft glass - glass having a relatively low softening point ground glass - glass that diffuses light due to a rough surface produced by abrasion or etching ground glass - particulate glass made by grinding and used as an abrasive lead glass - glass containing lead oxide; has a high refractive index laminated glass, safety glass, shatterproof glass - glass made with plates of plastic or resin or other material between two sheets of glass to prevent shattering sodium silicate, soluble glass, water glass - a viscous glass consisting of sodium silicate in solution; used as a cement or as a protective coating and to preserve eggs stained glass - glass that has been colored in some way; used for church windows wire glass - a glass that contains a layer of wire netting in it Pyrex - a borosilicate glass with a low coefficient of expansion; used for heat-resistant glassware in cooking and chemistry solid - matter that is solid at room temperature and pressure
	2.	glass - a container for holding liquids while drinking drinking glass beer glass - a relatively large glass for serving beer bumper - a glass filled to the brim (especially as a toast); "we quaffed a bumper of ale" container - any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another) goblet - a drinking glass with a base and stem highball glass - a tall glass for serving highballs liqueur glass - a small glass for serving a small amount of liqueur (typically after dinner) parfait glass - a tall slender glass with a short stem in which parfait is served rummer - a large drinking glass (ovoid bowl on a stem) for drinking toasts schooner - a large beer glass seidel - a glass for beer jigger, shot glass, pony - a small glass adequate to hold a single swallow of whiskey brandy glass, brandy snifter, snifter - a globular glass with a small top; used for serving brandy tumbler - a glass with a flat bottom but no handle or stem; originally had a round bottom water glass - a glass for drinking water wineglass - a glass that has a stem and in which wine is served glass - a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
	3.	glass - the quantity a glass will hold glassful containerful - the quantity that a container will hold
	4.	glass - a small refracting telescope field glass, spyglass refracting telescope - optical telescope that has a large convex lens that produces an image that is viewed through the eyepiece
	5.	glass - an amphetamine derivative (trade name Methedrine) used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant deoxyephedrine, meth, methamphetamine, methamphetamine hydrochloride, Methedrine, shabu, chicken feed, crank, chalk, trash, ice amphetamine, pep pill, upper, speed - a central nervous system stimulant that increases energy and decreases appetite; used to treat narcolepsy and some forms of depression controlled substance - a drug or chemical substance whose possession and use are controlled by law
	6.	glass - a mirror; usually a ladies' dressing mirror looking glass mirror - polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
	7.	glass - glassware collectively; "She collected old glass" glassware, glasswork - an article of tableware made of glass
Verb	1.	glass - furnish with glass; "glass the windows" glaze furnish, provide, supply, render - give something useful or necessary to; "We provided the room with an electrical heater" double-glaze - provide with two sheets of glass
	2.	glass - scan (game in the forest) with binoculars scan - examine minutely or intensely; "the surgeon scanned the X-ray"
	3.	glass - enclose with glass; "glass in a porch" glass in inclose, shut in, close in, enclose - surround completely; "Darkness enclosed him"; "They closed in the porch with a fence"
	4.	glass - put in a glass container put in, stick in, inclose, insert, introduce, enclose - introduce; "Insert your ticket here"
	5.	glass - become glassy or take on a glass-like appearance; "Her eyes glaze over when she is bored" glass over, glaze, glaze over change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night"