ceramic

[ suh-ram-ik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to products made from clay and similar materials, as pottery and brick, or to their manufacture:

   ceramic art.

noun

1. ceramic material.

ceramic

/ sɪˈræmɪk /

noun

1. a hard brittle material made by firing clay and similar substances
2. an object made from such a material

adjective

1. of, relating to, or made from a ceramic

   this vase is ceramic

2. of or relating to ceramics

   ceramic arts and crafts

ceramic

/ sə-răm′ĭk /

1. Any of various hard, brittle, heat- and corrosion-resistant materials made typically of metallic elements combined with oxygen or with carbon, nitrogen, or sulfur. Most ceramics are crystalline and are poor conductors of electricity, though some recently discovered copper-oxide ceramics are superconductors at low temperatures.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ceramic¹

1840–50; variant of keramic < Greek keramikós, equivalent to kéram ( os ) potters' clay + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of ceramic¹

C19: from Greek keramikos, from keramos potter's clay, pottery

Example Sentences

Piezoelectricity, which translates from Greek to mean pressing electricity, usually found in ceramics or polymers, is also present in human biomolecules.

From Science Daily

"The process is called sintering, which aggregates fine particles together into a more solid state. It is similar to powder metallurgy in the manufacturing of ceramics," continues Tsumori.

From Science Daily

If you get one of these containers, do not use it to reheat the food or your leftovers — transfer the food to glass or ceramic containers.

From Los Angeles Times

The British Museum is to receive what is believed to be the highest-value gift ever received by a UK museum with the acquisition of £1bn worth of Chinese ceramics.

From BBC

The British Museum is to be given Chinese ceramics worth £1bn in what is believed to be the highest-value gift received by a UK museum.

From BBC

Related Words

• brick
• earthenware
• porcelain
• stoneware
• tile