hand glass
- noun
- /hænd ɡlæs/
- Archaic
:
espejo de mano
- She checked her makeup in a hand glass before entering the meeting.
Examples
-
He handed her a hand glass so she could see the back of her hair.
-
The antique hand glass had an ornate silver handle.
-
She looked at herself in the hand glass.
-
I bought a beautiful hand glass from the antique store.
-
She checked her makeup in a hand glass before entering the meeting.
-
He handed her a hand glass so she could see the back of her hair.
-
The antique hand glass had an ornate silver handle.
Synonyms
775
1.0
A smooth surface that shows a clear image of things
67
9.9
A mirror used to see your face when dressing
10
8.7
A mirror often used to check your face and clothes
3
2.1
A small mirror with a handle that you hold to see your face
1
2.5
A small mirror people carry in a bag or pocket to check their appearance
1
2.4
A small folding mirror in a case that you carry to check your face
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun-noun composition 'hand' + 'glass' clearly suggests a hand-held piece of glass, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a small portable glass object (e.g., a mirror or lens). However, the precise sense 'a magnifying lens with a handle' is not fully predictable—learners might assume a hand mirror or other handheld glass—so the meaning is only partially derivable from the parts.
Etymology
Hand glass comes from the simple object of a small glass or mirror with a handle you hold in your hand. Imagine someone holding it up to check their hair or makeup, and you see why it means 'a small mirror you hold'.