ceramic ware made of a more or less translucent ceramic
"The delicate blue vase, crafted from fine porcelain, allowed light to pass through its thin walls."
A hard white translucent ceramic, originally made by firing kaolin, quartz, and feldspar at high temperatures but now also inclusive of similar artificial materials; also often (figuratively) such a material as a symbol of the fragility, elegance, etc. traditionally associated with porcelain goods.
"The delicate vase was crafted from fine white porcelain, its translucent glaze reflecting the candlelight like fragile glass."
In plain English: Porcelain is a very hard, white ceramic material made from clay and fired at high temperatures that feels smooth to the touch.
"She carefully washed her favorite porcelain cup with warm water and mild soap."
Usage: Porcelain refers to the specific type of fine, vitrified ceramic known for its translucency and whiteness. Use this term when describing delicate dinnerware or artistic objects made from fired clay mixtures like kaolin, rather than general earthenware or stoneware.
The name porcelain comes from Old Italian, where it originally referred to both cowrie shells and Chinese pottery. This connection exists because early makers noticed that the smooth texture of fine china closely resembled the shell of the cowrie snail.