Definitions
01the material
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Science Technical
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.
“The floor was covered in a tough ceramic that was easy to clean.”
“Advanced ceramic materials are increasingly utilised in aerospace engineering due to their exceptional thermal stability and resistance to wear.”
Usage
Often used uncountably when referring to the substance itself.
02an object
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a pot, vase, or other object made from baked clay.
n. an individual object or work of art fashioned from ceramic material.
“She collects hand-painted ceramics from her travels around the Mediterranean.”
“The museum's collection includes rare Greek ceramics that demonstrate the transition from geometric patterns to figurative storytelling.”
Usage
Commonly used in the plural to refer to a collection of items.
Synonyms
03made of ceramic
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. made of clay or minerals that have been hardened by heat.
adj. composed of or relating to ceramic material.
“We replaced the old metal sink with a white ceramic one.”
“The technician applied a ceramic coating to the vehicle's exterior to provide a superior layer of protection against environmental damage.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“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.” Etymology
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.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0