Jump To:

• delft
  delft

  noun

  earthenware having an opaque white glaze with an overglaze decoration, usually in blue.
• Delft
  Delft

  noun

  a city in W Netherlands.

delft

¹ American  

[delft] / dɛlft /

Also delf

noun

1. earthenware having an opaque white glaze with an overglaze decoration, usually in blue.

2. any pottery resembling this.

---

Delft ² American  

[delft] / dɛlft /

noun

1. a city in W Netherlands.

---

Delft British  

/ dɛlft /

noun

1. a town in the SW Netherlands, in South Holland province. Pop: 97 000 (2003 est)

2. Also called: delftware. tin-glazed earthenware made in Delft since the 17th century, typically having blue decoration on a white ground

3. a similar earthenware made in England

---

Etymology

Origin of delft

First recorded in 1705–15; after Delft

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

delft Delft

The gently moving backdrops, painted deep delft blue, looked like they had sprung from a sumptuous picture book.

From New York Times ● Jul. 13, 2018

Key pieces: Call us old-fashioned, but our favorite piece was a more traditional delft blue twill suit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2014

Royal weddings were routinely marked with goblets or delft plates, but it was not until the coronation of King George II in 1727 that manufacturers were allowed to reproduce the monarch's likeness.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 20, 2011

In homely blue delft cups a dozen or more eggs were ranged beside high stacks of buttered toast, rich and yellow.

From The Mermaid A Love Tale by Lily Dougall

Alas for the pretty gown of delft blue pongee which she had donned with girlish satisfaction at luncheon time.

From Marjorie Dean College Junior by Pauline Lester

Servaas Storm, an economist closely following the AI sector at the Delft University of Technology, said the industry is already facing severe financial headwinds that could precipitate a panic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026

Vermeer emerged from the doctrinal matrices of 17th-century Delft.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

And in the 12 months since they have been operating the Marine Application Centre in Delft, they have already built a prototype 12m fast boat, similar to a RIB, for the Dutch Navy.

From BBC ● Nov. 27, 2025

In addition to the Arts and Crafts movement, tile artists began producing a wide variety of works inspired by traditional Mexican and Indigenous designs, as well as European styles like Delft.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2025

I point to the royal blue on Mrs. Janssen’s Delft saucers in the china cupboard.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---