noun
Common
clay
klay
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: “The children pressed their hands into wet clay to make little prints.”
noun
1
A fine-grained, sticky earth that becomes pliable when wet and hardens when fired or dried — used for pottery, bricks, and sculpture.
"The children pressed their hands into wet clay to make little prints."
"She shaped the clay into a bowl on the wheel."
"The riverbank was thick with soft, red clay."
2
A tennis court surface made of crushed stone or brick.
"The slow, dusty clay court suits players who like long rallies."
"Our local club has two clay courts and one hard court."
"He's always played better on clay than on grass."
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.
Common pairings
wet clay
clay pot
clay court
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Word forms
- Plural
- clays
- Third person singular
- clays
- Past tense
- clayed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children pressed their hands into wet _____ to make little prints.
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."
Synonyms
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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.
What is the difference between "clay" and "mud"?
Clay is a fine-grained, sticky earth that becomes pliable when wet and hardens when fired or dried, making it suitable for pottery and bricks. Mud is simply wet, soft earth mixed with water and does not have the fine texture or firing properties that make clay useful for shaping.
What are common collocations with "clay"?
Common pairings include modeling clay, potter's clay, clay pot, clay tablet, and clay court. People also describe something moldable or easily influenced as being "like clay in your hands."
Is "clay" countable or uncountable?
Clay is normally uncountable, so you say "a lump of clay" or "some clay" rather than "a clay." It only takes plural forms in technical contexts where different kinds of clay are compared.
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