terracotta

American  

[ter-uh-kot-uh] / ˈtɛr əˈkɒt ə /

Or terra-cotta terra cotta

noun

1. 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.

2. something made of terracotta.

3. a brownish-orange color like that of unglazed terracotta.

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adjective

1. made of or having the color of terracotta.

terracotta British  

/ ˌtɛrəˈkɒtə /

noun

1. a hard unglazed brownish-red earthenware, or the clay from which it is made

2. something made of terracotta, such as a sculpture

3. a strong reddish-brown to brownish-orange colour

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adjective

1. made of terracotta

   a terracotta urn

2. of the colour terracotta

   a terracotta carpet

Etymology

Origin of terracotta

First recorded in 1715–25; from Italian: literally, “baked earth, cooked earth,” from Latin terra cocta; see origin at thirsty, cook ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

This 12.5 foot-tall terracotta figure embodies various kinds of religious iconography all at once, from a Vishnu-like chest to a Christ-like beard.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The center would be a neighbor to Camarillo’s house in Victoria Ranch, a family-friendly area with beige stucco homes topped with terracotta tile roofs.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

While very little studied, the Nok period is well known for its distinctive and refined terracotta sculptures.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

From a family-run ceramics studio in Portugal’s Alentejo region, these hand-thrown terracotta cups bring abundant sunshine to the breakfast table.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

Above them, the evening sky glowed a murky terracotta, the same colour as the building’s walls.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan