Glasshouse: meaning, definitions and examples

Also can refer to a prison or a place of confinement, which is a less common and more negative usage.

• He spent three years in a glasshouse for committing that crime

Commonly used in both American and British English, it refers to a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of transparent material, like glass, used for growing plants.

• My grandmother grows the most beautiful roses in her greenhouse

Often refers to a greenhouse that is intentionally kept at high temperatures to cultivate tropical plants. This word can also have a metaphorical use, referring to environments encouraging rapid growth or intense activity.

• They keep orchids in the hothouse to ensure they receive the necessary warmth
• The school is a hothouse for young entrepreneurs

Use when talking about a building made entirely or mostly of glass, usually for growing plants that need controlled conditions.

• The gardener spent most of his time in the glasshouse tending to the delicate flowers

Utilize this for describing a small pocket of air or gas in a liquid or for figurative speech about being isolated from real-world problems.

• Jim felt like he was living in a bubble, unaware of the struggles happening around him

Select this in a figurative sense to describe a situation where someone is out of touch with everyday problems, usually because they are isolated by their social or economic status. It often carries a negative connotation.

• The professor was criticized for his ivory tower mentality, as his theories had little relevance to real-world issues