terracotta

American  

[ter-uh-kot-uh] / ˈtɛr əˈkɒt ə /

Or terra-cotta terra cotta

noun

terracottas plural

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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• terracottas
  plural

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

See Examples For:

terracotta terracottas

Hardwood floors run throughout the property, including in the bedrooms, save for the entryway which features a terracotta tile and a wrought iron staircase leading up to the second level.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

Most existing Celtic objects—found in bogs and burial mounds—are durable works in stone, bone, glass, metal and terracotta with rare survivals in wood, leather and cloth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 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

Earlier on Friday, designer Alessandro Sartori invited buyers and journalists into Zegna's personal wardrobe, with structured jackets paired with flowing trousers in natural green and terracotta, and innovative fabrics.

From Barron's ● Jan. 16, 2026

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

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Much more expensive and much less fragile, the marble versions were considered supreme, while the terracottas were deemed provisional and even dispensable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

Anthony Radcliffe, who has died aged 77, was a leading curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London for more than 30 years, and the most gifted connoisseur of Italian bronzes and terracottas of his generation.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 23, 2011

Rustici left his own interpretations of Leonardo’s murals in the form of terracottas for which, as Vasari noted, there was considerable demand.

From New York Times ● Dec. 13, 2010

Naturally enough the later terracottas would keep close to the old tradition.

From The American Journal of Archaeology, 1893-1 by Various

They were fastened to the stone by iron nails, the distance between the nail-holes in terracottas and cornice blocks corresponding exactly.

From The American Journal of Archaeology, 1893-1 by Various