Clay

Definition of Clay

Pronunciation: klā

A soft earth, which is plastic, or may be molded with the hands, consisting of hydrous silicate of aluminium. It is the result of the wearing down and decomposition, in part, of rocks containing aluminous minerals, as granite. Lime, magnesia, oxide of iron, and other ingredients, are often present as impurities.

(Poetry & Script.) Earth in general, as representing the elementary particles of the human body; hence, the human body as formed from such particles.

I also am formed out of the clay.

- Job xxxiii. 6.

The earth is covered thick with other clay,
Which her own clay shall cover.

- Byron.

Bowlder clay
See under Bowlder.

Brick clay
the common clay, containing some iron, and therefore turning red when burned.

Clay cold
cold as clay or earth; lifeless; inanimate.

Clay ironstone
an ore of iron consisting of the oxide or carbonate of iron mixed with clay or sand.

Clay marl
a whitish, smooth, chalky clay.

Clay mill
a mill for mixing and tempering clay; a pug mill.

Clay pit
a pit where clay is dug.

Clay slate
(Min.) argillaceous schist; argillite.

Fatty clays
clays having a greasy feel; they are chemical compounds of water, silica, and aluminia, as halloysite, bole, etc.

Fire clay
a variety of clay, entirely free from lime, iron, or an alkali, and therefore infusible, and used for fire brick.

Porcelain clay
a very pure variety, formed directly from the decomposition of feldspar, and often called kaolin.

Potter's clay
a tolerably pure kind, free from iron.

v. t.

To cover or manure with clay.

[imp. & p. p. Clayed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Claying.]

To clarify by filtering through clay, as sugar.

Related Words

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Clavicorn
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Clavier
Claviform
Claviger
Clavigerous
Clavis
Clavus
Clavy
Claw
Claw hammer
Claw hammer coat
Claw me, claw thee
Claw sickness
Clawback
Clawed
Clawless
clawlike
claxon
-Clay-
Clay cold
Clay ironstone
Clay marl
Clay mill
Clay pit
Clay slate
Clay-brained
Clayes
Clayey
Clayish
Claymore
Claymore mine
Claytonia
clayware
Cleading
Clean
Clean breach
Clean hands
Clean-cut
Clean-limbed

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