Definition of clay - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
geologynatural earth material used in pottery and bricks
- The artist shaped the clay into a beautiful vase.
2.
soilsoft wet earth or mud
- After the rain, the path was full of clay.
3.
sportstennis court surface made of crushed stone or brick
- The tournament was held on a clay court.
Verb
1.
constructionDated apply soft wet earth onto a surface to change textureDated
- They decided to clay the walls for insulation.
2.
sugar refiningDated purify sugar by filtering it through natural earth materialDated
- The factory clays the sugar to remove impurities.
Images of clay

natural earth material used in pottery and bricks 
tennis court surface made of crushed stone or brick
Expressions with clay
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
hidden weakness in a respected person
The leader's clay feet were revealed during the crisis.
ordinary people or things
He considered himself just one of the common clay.
person easily influenced or controlled
She was like clay in his hands, agreeing to everything he said.
hidden weakness in a strong person
Even the greatest leaders have feet of clay.
disc used as a target in shooting sports
He hit the clay pigeon on his first try.
malleable substance for building models and sculpting
She crafted a dragon using modeling clay.
soft material shaped for art, play, or creative projects
Modelling clay is fun for making animals and shapes.
sport where participants shoot at flying clay targets
He goes clay pigeon shooting every weekend to practice his aim..
clay pipe used in plumbing or drainage
The old house had clay pipes for drainage.
excavation or pit for extracting clay
The workers dug into the clay pit to gather material for bricks.
technique of animating clay models
Clay animation requires patience and skill.
type of clay used for making ceramics
The sculptor molded the potter's clay into a beautiful vase..
unsealed road made of clay soil
The truck got stuck on the clay road.
type of tennis court made from crushed brick, stone, or shale
The French Open is played on a clay court..
unstratified glacial deposit with clay and boulders
The field was covered in boulder clay.
kaolin used in ceramics and paper
China clay is essential in porcelain production.
any of various minerals found in clay, affecting its properties
The presence of a specific clay mineral can determine the soil's suitability for agriculture..
clay mixed with paper fibers for ceramics
She sculpted a large vase using paper clay.
fine white clay used in ceramics
The artist sculpted a vase from porcelain clay.
Origin of clay
Old English, clǣg (sticky earth)
Terms with clay included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
art
ceramic items made from clay and baked
shade
deep warm brownish-red color like red clay bricks
manufacturing
hard brittle material made by firing clay
home decor
fired clay item used for dishes or art
artistic
relating to the art of making objects with clay
paint
natural color like soil or clay
art
making three-dimensional art by shaping materials like clay or stone
cooking
the process of working dough or clay by hand
construction
type of building material made from clay
art
shape materials like stone or clay into art
masonry mix
material made of clay for building
colors
color resembling red clay
sculpting
form shapes from a substance like clay
craft
art of making objects from fired clay
architecture
house built from sun-dried clay bricks common in dry climates
clay objects
objects made from clay and hardened by heat
handmade art
art of making objects from clay
sculptures
artist creating sculptures from clay
agriculture
fertile soil with sand, silt, clay, and organic matter
craft
person who makes models from materials like clay
cooking
Indian cooking method using a clay oven
Indian cuisine
relating to Indian clay oven cooking
shade
reddish-brown color resembling fired clay
material
made from reddish-brown clay material
Examples of clay in a sentence
Clay deposits in the region are known for their high quality. Her boots sank into the sticky clay. The workers dug through clay to lay the pipes. He prefers playing on clay because of its slow pace. Clay surfaces can be challenging for fast players. The artist decided to clay the sculpture for a smoother finish.
Farmers often clay the soil to improve its texture. They clay the raw sugar in large vats. Workers clay the sugar to ensure purity.
View all translations of clay
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:argile, recouvrir, ...
- German:Ton, lehmen, ...
- Italian:argilla, rivestire di argilla, ...
- Spanish:arcilla, aplicar arcilla, ...
- Portuguese:argila, revestir, ...
- Chinese:陶土, 抹泥, ...
- Japanese:粘土, 粘土を塗る, ...
- Arabic:طين, طَيَّنَ, ...
- Hebrew:חוֹמֶר, לָטוּחַ, ...
- Russian:глина, обмазывать, ...
- Ukrainian:глина, обмазувати, ...
- Hindi:चिकनी मिट्टी, मिट्टी लगाना, ...

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