clay

¹ American  

[kley] / kleɪ /

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.

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verb (used with object)

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

2. to filter through clay.

Clay ² American  

[kley] / kleɪ /

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 (DuBignon) 1897–1978, U.S. general.

6. a male given name.

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clay ¹ British  

/ 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

2. earth or mud in general

3. poetic the material of the human body

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verb

1. (tr) to cover or mix with clay

Clay ² British  

/ kleɪ /

noun

1. Cassius See Muhammad Ali

2. Henry. 1777–1852, US statesman and orator; secretary of state (1825–29)

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clay Scientific  

/ 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.

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clay Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing clay

• feet of clay

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Other Word Forms

• clayey adjective
• claylike adjective
• unclayed adjective

Etymology

Origin of clay

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

Example Sentences

Because practice drones are in limited supply, the troops also practiced by shooting down clay pigeons, though they move more predictably than drones.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Boulter, 29, went down 7-6 7-6 on clay to world number 87 Ruse, who will now face Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska or American Ann Li in the last 16.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Since that news, Graham has posted photos of himself shooting clay and doing other community events in South Carolina, and he has threatened sanctions against Spain.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

The tile industry developed in Gujarat due to the availability of clay and good transport connections, but it relies on overseas energy to fire.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Her fingertips on his skin held the warmth of a clay pot left out in the sun.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• brick
• earth
• mud