Vitreous \Vit"re*ous\, a. [L. vitreous, from vitrum glass; perhaps akin to videre to see (see Vision). Cf. Varnish.] 1. Consisting of, or resembling, glass; glassy; as, vitreous rocks. 2. Of or pertaining to glass; derived from glass; as, vitreous electricity. Vitreous body (Anat.), the vitreous humor. See the Note under Eye. Vitreous electricity (Elec.), the kind of electricity excited by rubbing glass with certain substances, as silk; positive electricity; -- opposed to resinous, or negative, electricity. Vitreous humor. (Anat.) See the Note under Eye. Vitreous sponge (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of siliceous sponges having, often fibrous, glassy spicules which are normally six-rayed; a hexactinellid sponge. See Venus's basket, under Venus.

Vegetable sponge. (Bot.) See Loof. Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the West Indies. Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge. Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge ({Spongia agaricina}, variety corlosia) found in Florida and the West Indies.

Glass-sponge \Glass"-sponge`\, n. (Zo["o]l.) A siliceous sponge, of the genus Hyalonema, and allied genera; -- so called from their glassy fibers or spicules; -- called also vitreous sponge. See Glass-rope, and Euplectella.

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