glasshouse
|glass-house|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈɡlæsˌhaʊs/
🇬🇧
/ˈɡlɑːsˌhaʊs/
transparent structure
Etymology
Etymology Information
'glasshouse' originates from the English words 'glass' and 'house', where 'glass' referred to the transparent material and 'house' meant a building or structure.
Historical Evolution
'glasshouse' has been used since the 17th century to describe structures made primarily of glass for horticultural purposes.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant a structure for growing plants, but it also came to mean a military prison in British slang.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a building made of glass, typically used for growing plants that require regulated climatic conditions.
The botanist spent hours in the glasshouse tending to the exotic plants.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45