china

noun

chi·​na ˈchī-nə How to pronounce china (audio)
1
: porcelain
also : vitreous porcelain wares (such as dishes, vases, or ornaments) for domestic use
2
: earthenware or porcelain tableware

Examples of china in a Sentence

She uses her good china when she has company for dinner.
Recent Examples on the Web Several presidents have selected the eagle for their official china, while citizens have turned to the bird to decorate mirrors, wallpaper, fabrics, door knockers and even tavern signs. Brenda Yenke, cleveland, 10 Aug. 2023 This solution is gentle enough for your best china, yet powerful enough to tackle the greasiest everyday dishes with ease. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2023 Those looking to go cottagecore at home can shop teas by Palais des Thes, cocktail napkins from Kim Seybert, fine china by Juliksa, bedding by Sky, colorful party supplies by Meri Meri and more. Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2022 The tea and small bites are served on Christian Lacroix china, a pattern with butterflies, the store’s longtime signature symbol. Maria Halkias, Dallas News, 5 Mar. 2020 In the bottom of a china cabinet, behind some plates, the officers found a semiautomatic handgun that had been bought in pieces and assembled into a working weapon. BostonGlobe.com, 20 Oct. 2019 The number of deaths due to the coronavirus has risen to 2,465 worldwide, with 79,930 globally and 20 deaths outside of mainland china. Rob McLean, CNN, 23 Feb. 2020 For miles around Utah’s capital, china rattled in cabinets, pictures plummeted off walls and power snapped out. Maria Cramer, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2020 The items taken were stereo equipment and some antique china. cleveland, 4 Mar. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'china.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Persian chīnī Chinese porcelain

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of china was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near china

Cite this Entry

“China.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/china. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

china

noun
chi·​na ˈchī-nə How to pronounce china (audio)
1
2
: dishes of pottery or porcelain for use as tableware

Geographical Definition

China

geographical name

Chi·​na ˈchī-nə How to pronounce China (audio)
variants or officially People's Republic of China
country of eastern Asia bordering on the Pacific; the most populous country in the world; a republic whose capital is Beijing area 3,705,407 square miles (9,596,960 square kilometers), population 1,384,689,000

see also chinese

More from Merriam-Webster on china

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