What does vase mean?
A vase is an open container, usually made of glass, ceramic, porcelain, or metal, used chiefly to display and hold cut flowers. In ordinary usage, the word suggests a decorative household or ceremonial object rather than a general-purpose container: a glass vase on a dining table may contain flowers, while an urn may have a more specialized or formal function. Vases are valued not only for their utility but also for their shape, material, craftsmanship, and relationship to the flowers they display. The regular plural is vases. The word is common in both British and American English, although pronunciation differs: /veɪs/ is especially familiar in American speech, while /vɑːz/ is also widely used in Britain. Its presence in flower arrangements, interior design, ceremonies, and museum collections makes it a familiar term, although “vase” is more specific than the broader word “vessel.”
nounAn open container, typically made of glass, ceramic, porcelain, or metal, used chiefly for displaying and holding flowers. It may also be an ornamental container valued for its design or craftsmanship.
- An ornamental open container used chiefly to hold and display flowers.
"A tall glass vase filled with fresh flowers stood on the windowsill."
"She arranged the roses in a blue ceramic vase."
"The museum displayed an ancient clay vase beside a display case."
The regular plural adds -s while retaining the final -e: vase → vases.
"Two vases filled with daisies flanked the entrance."
The word “vase” comes through French from Latin vas, meaning “vessel”—the same root that gave English the word “vessel.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vase
The word entered English in the 16th century from French vase, which derives from Latin vas, meaning “vessel” or “container.” The deeper origin of the Latin term is uncertain. The same Latin root also underlies English words such as vessel, vascular, vasectomy, and vasomotor, although their modern meanings developed along separate semantic paths.
How vase is actually used
In contemporary English, “vase” usually denotes a decorative container, most often for cut flowers. It is neutral in register and common in both British and American English, though its pronunciation and typical floral or ornamental associations vary regionally.