- ceramic ware of a type originally from China
- any porcelain or similar ware
- cups, saucers, etc, collectively
- (modifier) made of china
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
chi•na /ˈtʃaɪnə/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Ceramicsa material made from baked clay originally imported from China and used for making plates, etc.;
porcelain:China is very delicate. - Ceramicsany plates or tableware made of porcelain or ceramic:She brought out her best china.
chi•na
(chī′nə),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
Chi•na (chī′nə),USA pronunciation n.
- Ceramicsa translucent ceramic material, biscuit-fired at a high temperature, its glaze fired at a low temperature.
- Ceramicsany porcelain ware.
- Ceramicsplates, cups, saucers, etc., collectively.
- Ceramicsfigurines made of porcelain or ceramic material, collectively:a collection of china.
- Dialect Terms[Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.]a playing marble of china, or sometimes of porcelain or glass.
adj.
- Ceramicsmade of china.
- indicating the twentieth event of a series, as a wedding anniversary. See table under wedding anniversary.
- by ellipsis from chinaware 1645–55
Chi•na (chī′nə),USA pronunciation n.
- Place Names People's Republic of, a country in E Asia. 1,221,591,778;
3,691,502 sq. mi. (9,560,990 sq. km). Cap.: Beijing. - Place Names Republic of. Also called Nationalist China. a republic consisting mainly of the island of Taiwan off the SE coast of mainland China: under Nationalist control since 1948 but claimed by the People's Republic of China. 16,100,000;
13,885 sq. mi. (35,960 sq. km). Cap.: Taipei.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
china /ˈtʃaɪnə/ n
china /ˈtʃaɪnə/ n
- Brit South African informal a friend or companion
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
China /ˈtʃaɪnə/ n
- People's Republic of China ⇒ a republic in E Asia: the third largest and the most populous country in the world; the oldest continuing civilization (beginning over 2000 years bc); republic established in 1911 after the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty by Sun Yat-sen; People's Republic formed in 1949; the 1980s and 1990s saw economic liberalization but a rejection of political reform; contains vast deserts, steppes, great mountain ranges (Himalayas, Kunlun, Tian Shan, and Nan Shan), a central rugged plateau, and intensively cultivated E plains. Language: Chinese in various dialects, the chief of which is Mandarin. Religion: officially nonreligious, but with Buddhist and Taoist minorities. Currency: yuan. Capital: Beijing. Pop: 1 417 504 847 (2017 est). Area: 9 560 990 sq km (3 691 502 sq miles)
- Republic of China, Nationalist China, Taiwan ⇒ a republic (recognized as independent by only a small number of nations) in E Asia occupying the island of Taiwan, 13 nearby islands, and 64 islands of the Penghu (Pescadores) group. Language: Mandarin Chinese. Religion: significant Buddhist and Taoist minorities. Currency: New Taiwan dollar. Capital: Taipei. Pop: 22 610 000 (2003 est). Area: 35 981 sq km (13 892 sq miles)Former name: Formosa
Related adjective(s): Sinitic
'china' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Adams
- Alai
- Allies
- alligator
- Altai Mountains
- Amoy
- Anhui
- Anqing
- Anyang
- art paper
- Asian flu
- aster
- Aylward
- Ballard
- Baoding
- Baotou
- Beijing
- Bengbu
- Benxi
- Bhutan
- bird flu
- Bohai
- bone ash
- bone china
- Boxer
- Brunei
- bull
- Burma Road
- Cantonese
- Cathay
- Changchun
- Changde
- Changsha
- Changzhou
- Chaozhou
- Cheju
- Chengde
- Chengdu
- Chiang Kai-shek
- Chin.
- china clay
- Chinagraph
- china stone
- chinaware
- china bark
- China ink
- Chinaman
- China Sea
- advantage
- ailanthus silkworm