The vitreous compound from which soft porcelain is made; the fusible ceramic mixture used to make glazes and enamels for dinnerware and metallic surfaces. In the manufacture of glaze, the oxides are normally suspended in water for application but some compounds (e.g. potassium and sodium) are very water soluble and if applied directly would be absorbed into the pot. Therefore, the raw materials are fused together under heat to form an insoluble glass known as frit. The frit is powdered, suspended in water and applied to the pot.