How do you use the word "clay" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "clay": Tom worked the clay into a vase. Now, just let the clay slide between your fingers.

Clay Meaning

/kleɪ/

Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA mineral substance made up of small crystals of silica and alumina, that is ductile when moist; the material of pre-fired ceramics.

nounAn earth material with ductile qualities.

Sentence Examples

Tom worked the clay into a vase.

Now, just let the clay slide between your fingers.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

mud

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

She molded the wet ____ into a small bowl for her project.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The artist used a large block of ____ to sculpt the beautiful ton.

Word Origin & History

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gleyH- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *gloyHós Proto-Germanic *klajjaz Proto-West Germanic *klaij Old English clǣġ Middle English cley English clay From Middle English cley, clay, from Old English clǣġ (“clay”), from Proto-West Germanic *klaij, from Proto-Germanic *klajjaz (“clay”), derived from Proto-Indo-European *gleyH- (“to glue, paste, stick together”). Cognate with Dutch klei (“clay”), Low German Klei (“clay”), German Klei, Danish klæg (“clay”); compare Ancient Greek γλία (glía), Latin glūten (“glue”) (whence ultimately English glue), Russian глина (glina, “clay”). Related also to clag, clog.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Three chairs of the steamer type, all maimed, comprised the furniture of this roof-garden, with (by way of local color) on one of the copings a row of four red clay flower-pots filled with sun-baked dust […]" — 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter I (Anarchy), page 377, column 2:

"Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about...thou hast made me as the clay." — 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 10:8-9:

"But now, O Lord, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou art our potter; and we are the work of thy hand." — 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 64:8:

"The Portuguese had mastered the technique of claying sugar, and other European nations tried to learn the secrets from them." — 1985, Stuart B. Schwartz, Sugar Plantations in the Formation of Brazilian Society: Bahia, 1550-1835, page 200:

"When he was about five years old some kids asked Clay why his mother had called him that. And he did not know. But began to wonder." — 1968, Patrick White, “Clay”, in The Burnt Ones, Penguin Books, page 114:

Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words