raku
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of raku
1870–75; < Japanese raku ( -yaki ) “pleasure” glaze, originated by Chōjirō of Kyoto, who was given the seal-stamp with the character “pleasure” from Hideyoshi as an artisan-household designation
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.
Our critic praised his raku sculptures at the recent New York art fairs.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026
In her studio, Lee has placed her kilns and pottery wheel and tried alternative firing techniques such as raku and pit firing.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2024
Artisans on various continents have painted Pop Art checkerboards on traditional tea-bowl forms and used ancient raku firing techniques on jokily unusable perforated vases.
From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2011
But in due course, ceramics echoing more native tastes — for example studiedly irregular raku vessels — also became an integral part of the complex tea-drinking ritual.
From New York Times • Jan. 8, 2010
I see myself that first day, sitting cross- legged on a batik floor pillow, drinking green tea out of a fired raku cup, and looking up at Zora with my big, hopeful, curious, attentive eyes.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
