ceramic
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a hard, often brittle material made by baking clay or minerals in a very hot oven.
n.an inorganic, nonmetallic solid material comprising metal, nonmetal or metalloid atoms primarily held in ionic and covalent bonds.
Simple“The floor was covered in a tough ceramic that was easy to clean.”
In context“Advanced ceramic materials are increasingly utilised in aerospace engineering due to their exceptional thermal stability and resistance to wear.”
UsageOften used uncountably when referring to the substance itself.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a pot, vase, or other object made from baked clay.
n.an individual object or work of art fashioned from ceramic material.
Simple“She collects hand-painted ceramics from her travels around the Mediterranean.”
In context“The museum's collection includes rare Greek ceramics that demonstrate the transition from geometric patterns to figurative storytelling.”
UsageCommonly used in the plural to refer to a collection of items.
Synonymspotteryearthenware - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.made of clay or minerals that have been hardened by heat.
adj.composed of or relating to ceramic material.
Simple“We replaced the old metal sink with a white ceramic one.”
In context“The technician applied a ceramic coating to the vehicle's exterior to provide a superior layer of protection against environmental damage.”
Synonymsclaystoneware
“Starship’s heat shield, made of approximately 18,000 ceramic tiles, is key to SpaceX’s goal of making the vehicle fully and rapidly reusable.”
“It’s almost all new ceramic and plastic works, with a few older pieces dotted around the place.”
From Ancient Greek κεραμικός (keramikós, “potter's”), from κέραμος (kéramos, “potter's clay”), perhaps from a pre-Hellenic word or from Proto-Indo-European *kerh₂- (“to heat, burn, fire”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.