clay

Examples

• All

• We're all made of the same clay, you know!

  Doctor Zhivago (1965)

• The angels, which have no sex, are made of light, whereas humans are created from clay...

  Academic text (2000)

• "In the beginning, God gave to every people a cup of clay... "

  The Passionate Friends (1949)

• In the cold clay of the grave, your memories will be lost.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Adam, whose name means clay was not baked in a kiln.

• Are you merely a piece of clay to be molded by other imperfect human hands?

  Blog text (26)

• To them, the sight of God's alter image rising from dust and clay brings no delight; in fact, they sulk.

  Academic text (1992)

• We are no more devised from insensate clay than is an herb blossoming out of mud.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Our bodies are made from the same clay that will eventually return to the earth.

• In the poem, the author reflects on how our mortal forms are merely temporary vessels of clay.

Synonyms

C

corpse

vsclay

362 4.9

A dead body of a person

is the archaic literary term rather than the neutral everyday word

R

remains

vsclay

• Formal

171 6.0

The body parts left after a person has died

is used archaically in general writing not specifically for burial

C

cadaver

vsclay

• Specialized

55 8.2

A dead human body used for medical study or teaching

is the archaic literary term used generally rather than a medical technical label

S

stiff

vsclay

• Slang

11 9.1

A dead body of a person

is the archaic literary word rather than a coarse informal expression

L

litch

vsclay

• Archaic

9.9

A dead body mentioned in old stories or poems

is the same meaning but uses a different archaic word form

L

lich

vsclay

• Archaic

9.9

A dead body often mentioned in old stories or books

is the same meaning but is an alternate archaic spelling

Compounds

R

red clay

5 2.4

Soil that is red from iron and becomes sticky when wet

C

clay pigeon

2 6.6

A small flat disc people shoot in the air as a target in shooting sports like skeet

C

clay pipe

1 4.4

A small pipe for smoking tobacco made from baked clay

C

clay sculpture

1 3.4

A work of art made by shaping clay, like a figure or pot

B

bleaching clay

• Specialized

7.8

A clay that removes colour from vegetable oil to make it clear

B

boulder clay

• UK

7.9

A heavy mix of clay, sand, and large stones left by glaciers

C

china clay

• UK

4.6

A fine white powder from the ground used for pottery and paper

C

clay-colored robin

• US

9.0

A small bird with dull brown-gray feathers that lives in Mexico and Central America

I

indurated clay

• Specialized

8.1

Soil made of clay that becomes hard from drying, heat, or chemicals

R

residual clay

• Specialized

7.7

Soil made mostly of clay that stays after rain and wind wash away other rock parts

P

porcelain clay

• Specialized

6.7

Fine white clay used to make porcelain and other ceramics

P

potter's clay

4.2

Soft natural clay used to make pots like bowls and vases before heating

S

sedimentary clay

• Specialized

5.6

Small rock and plant pieces settle and press into soft earth after they are moved by water, wind or ice

Surface Forms

Etymology