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Showing results for kaolin. Search instead for kaolins.
Synonyms

kaolin

American  
[key-uh-lin] / ˈkeɪ ə lɪn /
Or kaoline

noun

  1. a fine white clay used in the manufacture of porcelain.


kaolin British  
/ ˈkeɪəlɪn /

noun

  1. Also called: china clay.   china stone.  a fine white clay used for the manufacture of hard-paste porcelain and bone china and in medicine as a poultice and gastrointestinal absorbent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • kaolinic adjective

Etymology

Origin of kaolin

1720–30; < French < Chinese (Wade-Giles) Kao1ling3, (pinyin) Gāolǐng mountain in Jiangxi province that yielded the first kaolin sent to Europe ( gāo high + lǐng hill)

Vocabulary lists containing kaolin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Collins, over at Washington State University, has been experimenting with spraying fine-powdered kaolin or bentonite, which are clays, mixed with water onto wine grapes so it absorbs materials that are in smoke.

From Washington Times • Sep. 28, 2023

Wilkinson, Zandberg and others are experimenting with coating compounds such as a clay named kaolin, which essentially coats grapes to help prevent smoke from penetrating the skin.

From Washington Post • Sep. 10, 2021

When mixed with water and sprayed, the kaolin clay product creates a white particle film on foliage and fruit that confuses the insects.

From Seattle Times • May 27, 2020

Packing a wound added pressure that impeded blood flow, and the kaolin in the gauze encouraged clotting.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 1, 2019

In 1748 Cookworthy discovered kaolin on Tregonning Hill, more was found at Boconnoc, and Cookworthy and Thomas Pett began to make china in 1768.

From Cornwall by Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)