1. a white vitrified translucent ceramic; china: "a porcelain bowl"
▪ an article made of porcelain: "the paintings, porcelains, and prints that go on the block"
▪ porcelain articles collectively:"a collection of Chinese porcelain"
Word Originmid 16th century: from French porcelaine, from Italian porcellana ‘cowrie shell’, hence ‘chinaware’ (from its resemblance to the dense polished shells).