clay
Clay (noun) means a fine-grained, sticky earth that becomes pliable when wet and hardens when fired or dried — used for pottery, bricks, and sculpture. Example: “She shaped the clay into a bowl on the wheel.”
How to Use Clay
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft, moldable earth used for pottery and bricks, or (in tennis) the reddish crushed-stone court surface.
Word Forms
clayed past tense, clays plural, clays singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She shaped the _____ into a bowl on the wheel.
Etymology
From Old English clǣg, tracing back to a very old root meaning "to stick together" — the same root that eventually gave English the word "glue."
Related Words
Rhymes for clay
See all rhymes for clay →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “clay” mean?
The word “clay” means a fine-grained, sticky earth that becomes pliable when wet and hardens when fired or dried — used for pottery, bricks, and sculpture. In plain terms, a soft, moldable earth used for pottery and bricks, or (in tennis) the reddish crushed-stone court surface.
How do you pronounce “clay”?
“Clay” is pronounced klay (/kleɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “clay” in a sentence?
Here is “clay” used in a sentence: “She shaped the clay into a bowl on the wheel.”
What is the opposite of “clay”?
The opposite of “clay” — its antonyms — are soul and spirit.
What part of speech is “clay”?
“Clay” is a noun.
Where does the word “clay” come from?
The word “clay” comes from Old English. From Old English clǣg, tracing back to a very old root meaning "to stick together" — the same root that eventually gave English the word "glue.".
Is “clay” a common word?
“Clay” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “clay” have?
“Clay” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fine-grained, sticky earth that becomes pliable when wet and hardens when fired or dried — used for pottery, bricks, and sculpture.