clay
word
Definition
Clay is a soft, natural earth material that becomes hard when it is dried or baked. It is often used to make pots, bricks, and art, and it can also describe a type of soil.
Usage & Nuances
Usually uncountable: 'some clay,' not 'a clay,' unless you mean a type ('a red clay'). Common collocations: 'clay pot,' 'modeling clay,' 'clay soil,' 'clay court' in tennis. Don't confuse it with general 'mud' or ordinary 'soil.'
Example Sentences
The child made a small bowl from clay.
basic
This soil has a lot of clay in it.
basic
The pot is still wet because the clay is drying.
basic
I took a pottery class last weekend and spent two hours working with clay.
natural
Tennis looks so different on clay than on grass.
natural
Be careful with those boots—once clay sticks to them, it's hard to get off.
natural