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terra cotta

  • a variation of terracotta.
    terracotta
    noun
    a hard, fired clay, brownish-red in color when unglazed, that is used for architectural ornaments and facings, structural units, pottery, and as a material for sculpture.
terra-cotta
  • a variation of terracotta.
    terracotta
    noun
    a hard, fired clay, brownish-red in color when unglazed, that is used for architectural ornaments and facings, structural units, pottery, and as a material for sculpture.

Example Sentences

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They came in a small range of colors: sand, terra cotta, chestnut.

From Slate ● Oct. 20, 2024

Unique to these buildings was the application of Northwest Coast Indian art and Pacific Rim cultural references, which were interpreted by local sculptors and craftspeople in glass, metal, plaster, stone and terra cotta.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2023

While almost any type of container can be used to grow your plants, some common ones include plastic, ceramic or terra cotta pots or fabric grow bags.

From Salon ● Mar. 20, 2023

They were initially carved out of wood; by the mid-19th century, they were cast in terra cotta and porcelain.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 16, 2023

The figure forming the finial, called by the designer “The Spirit of the Army,” was cast in terra cotta by Messrs. Doulton, of the Lambeth Pottery. 

From Norfolk Annals A Chronological Record of Remarkable Events in the Nineteeth Century, Vol. 2 by Charles Mackie

Originally designed to evoke a classic Greek column, the structure's limestone, brick and terra-cotta exterior features ornamentation including lion heads, wreaths, eagles, and faces.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Shag carpet covered original terra-cotta floors, high-gloss paint coated nearly every wooden surface and overgrown weeds crowded the yard.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Asphalt shingles, tiles, wood shakes, concrete, metal shingles, concrete and terra-cotta clay tend to reflect more heat.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 30, 2023

In Naples, where artisans craft modern day terra-cotta figures to populate traditional nativity scenes, one shop clustered figures of Mr. Berlusconi made over the years, adding a sign: “Ciao Silvio.”

From New York Times ● Jun. 13, 2023

It looked like a terra-cotta jar, flying toward us.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

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