clay

¹

[ kley ]

noun

1. a natural earthy material that is plastic when wet, consisting essentially of hydrated silicates of aluminum: used for making bricks, pottery, etc.
2. earth; mud.
3. earth, especially regarded as the material from which the human body was formed.
4. the human body, especially as distinguished from the spirit or soul; the flesh.
5. human character as estimated according to fineness of constitution, endowments, etc.:

   The saints and heroes seem of a different clay from most of us.

verb (used with object)

1. to treat or mix with clay; cover, daub, or fill with clay.
2. to filter through clay.

Clay

²

[ kley ]

noun

1. Bertha M. Charlotte Monica Braeme, 1836–84, English author: originator of a long series of romantic novels.
2. Cassius Marcellus, 1810–1903, U.S. antislavery leader and diplomat.
3. Cassius Marcellus, Jr., original name of Muhammad Ali.
4. Henry, 1777–1852, U.S. statesman and orator.
5. Lucius (Du·Bi·gnon) [doo-bin-, yon], 1897–1978, U.S. general.
6. a male given name.

Clay

¹

/ kleɪ /

noun

1. ClayCassius Cassius See Muhammad Ali
2. ClayHenry17771852MUSPOLITICS: statesmanPOLITICS: orator Henry. 1777–1852, US statesman and orator; secretary of state (1825–29)

clay

²

/ kleɪ /

noun

1. a very fine-grained material that consists of hydrated aluminium silicate, quartz, and organic fragments and occurs as sedimentary rocks, soils, and other deposits. It becomes plastic when moist but hardens on heating and is used in the manufacture of bricks, cement, ceramics, etc figuline
2. earth or mud in general
3. poetic.
   the material of the human body

verb

1. tr to cover or mix with clay

clay

/ klā /

1. A stiff, sticky sedimentary material that is soft and pliable when wet and consists mainly of various silicates of aluminum. Clay particles are smaller than silt, having a diameter less than 0.0039 mm. Clay is widely used to make bricks, pottery, and tiles.

Derived Forms

• ˈclayey, adjective

Other Words From

• clay·like adjective
• un·clayed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of clay¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English clei, cleigh, Old English clǣg, cognate with Dutch klei, German Klei, akin to glue

Word History and Origins

Origin of clay¹

Old English clǣg; related to Old High German klīa, Norwegian kli, Latin glūs glue, Greek gloios sticky oil

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with clay , also see feet of clay .

Example Sentences

In Roriak, children fashion a miniature village out of the clay on the ground, complete with model huts and cows.

From BBC

Autumn brings clay lamps and marigold garlands to the marketplaces of Delhi as people prepare for Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

From Salon

I brought in an element of earth, which is the clay that we used, and we brought in some flowers.

From Los Angeles Times

In September, Dinda and the clay artists who built the Durga images in the historic artisan neighbourhood of Kumartuli led a protest march demanding justice for the woman they called “our Durga”.

From BBC

"To win that many matches on clay, no one will ever accomplish that feat again and that sort of winning record at the French Open."

From BBC

Related Words

• brick
• earth
• mud
• terra cotta