clay
gb/klˈeɪ/ us/klˈeɪ/
A2
English
~ 5000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Fine-grained natural earth
A soft, wet earth that becomes hard when it is baked or dried, used to make things like pots or bricks.
Usage pattern:
[something] made of clay
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'clay' with 'mud', but 'clay' refers to a specific type of fine earth used for making objects.
Synonyms
mud (Less specific; refers to wet soil generally, not necessarily suitable for pottery.)
|
ceramic material (More formal and specific to materials science; refers to fired clay products.)
Antonyms
sand (A loose granular material that does not harden when heated in the same way as clay.)
Collocations
clay pot
|clay soil
|clay bricks
|modeling clay
|red clay
Themes
materials
|construction
|art
|nature
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The artist shaped the clay into a beautiful vase.
- Farmers in this region struggle with heavy clay soils.
- She bought a set of handmade clay mugs from the market.
- The children played with modeling clay for hours.
Learner examples
- The cup is made of clay.
- He made a small bowl from clay.
- Clay is soft when wet.
- We use clay to make bricks.
Noun
literary
B2
entity
2
Human body as earthly matter
A literary way to talk about the human body as something made from the earth.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use this sense in everyday speech, but it is mostly found in literature or poetry.
Synonyms
flesh (Refers more generally to the soft tissue of the body; less metaphorical than 'clay' in this sense.)
Antonyms
spirit (Refers to the non-physical essence or soul, opposite of the body as earthly matter.)
Collocations
mortal clay
|earthen clay
Themes
literature
|religion
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The poet wrote of our fragile clay and immortal souls.
- From dust we came, and to clay we shall return.
- His mortal clay was laid to rest in the churchyard.
Learner examples
- The poet called the body 'mortal clay'.
- Some people say our bodies are made from clay.
- In stories, 'clay' can mean the human body.
Grammar
Dictionary form
clay
IPA
GB/klˈeɪ/
US/klˈeɪ/
Syllables & stress
clay (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (clay)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: clay
- Plural: clay, clays
Word family
Forms
clays
noun
Related words
clayey
adjective
Expressions
feet of clay
1/fˈit əv klˈeɪ/
idiom
Hidden flaw or weakness
A fault or weakness in someone who is usually admired or respected.
Examples
- The public was shocked to learn that their hero had feet of clay.
- Even great leaders can have feet of clay.
modeling clay
1/mˈɑdəlɪŋ klˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
Soft material for shaping objects
A soft kind of clay that you can easily shape with your hands to make models or art.
Examples
- The children used modeling clay to make animals.
- She bought some modeling clay for her art project.
mortal clay
1/mˈɔɹtəl klˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
literary
Human body as mortal matter
A literary way of saying the human body, which will die one day.
Examples
- In his poem, he spoke of mortal clay returning to dust.
- We must care for our mortal clay while we live.