Gläser

Gläser is the plural form of Glas in German and is most commonly used to refer to drinking glasses—vessels made of glass used for beverages. In everyday speech, Gläser denotes individual items within glassware, such as Wassergläser or Weingläser, but the term can also be used more broadly for glass containers, though more specific terms are typical for non-drinking glass items. The word is linked to the material Glas.

Glass is an inorganic, amorphous solid produced by melting silica with fluxes and stabilizers. The most common consumer glass is soda-lime glass; for finer wares, lead crystal (Bleikristall) is used, and borosilicate glass (Borosilikatglas) is common in laboratory and high-thermal applications. Glass can be transparent and colorless or tinted by oxides, leading to green, brown, or blue hues.

Drinking glasses vary by form and purpose. Tumblers and water glasses are typically stemless, while wine glasses, Champagner- and Sektgläser often feature bowls designed to influence aroma and temperature. Stemware combines a stem with a bowl, whereas tumblers do not. Finishes range from clear to colored, and from smooth to etched or engraved surfaces. Some glassware includes decorations, coatings, or insulating layers.

Manufacturing methods include glass blowing, pressing, and molding. After forming, glass items undergo annealing to relieve internal stress and may receive surface treatments or decorations. In modern usage, glass is valued for transparency, chemical resistance, and recyclability, and it serves roles in householdware, bottles and jars, architectural glazing, and laboratory equipment.

Gläser also appears as a German surname.