clay
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a type of heavy, sticky earth that you can shape when it is wet and that becomes hard when you heat it.
n.a natural earthy material that is plastic when wet, consisting essentially of hydrated silicates of aluminum and used for making bricks and pottery.
Simple“The artist spent the afternoon shaping the wet clay into a beautiful vase.”
In context“The potter carefully wedged the clay to remove air bubbles before centering the mass on the wheel for throwing.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a surface for playing tennis made of crushed stone or brick.
n.a tennis court surface composed of crushed shale, stone, or brick, known for slowing down the ball and producing a high bounce.
Simple“He prefers playing on clay because the game is slower than on grass.”
In context“Specialist players often excel during the European spring season when the professional tour moves to red clay surfaces.”
Antonymsgrasshardcourt - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.very small pieces of rock or earth, smaller than sand.
n.sedimentary particles with a diameter of less than 1/256 mm or 3.9 microns, according to the Wentworth scale.
Simple“The soil in this area has a high clay content, so it holds a lot of water.”
In context“Geological analysis revealed a dense layer of alluvial clay that prevented the downward migration of groundwater into the lower aquifer.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.the land or territory belonging to a country.
n.a humorous or informal reference to the sovereign territory or land of a nation, often used in political memes.
Simple“The internet meme showed a small country defending its clay from a larger neighbor.”
In context“Online political satire frequently personifies nations as characters obsessed with expanding or protecting their clay.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
n.the physical material of the human body, especially when thinking about life and death.
n.the physical substance of the human body, often in contrast to the soul or spirit; frequently used in a poetic or biblical context.
Simple“The old poem spoke of how all men eventually return to the clay.”
In context“The philosopher argued that while the spirit is eternal, the clay is merely a temporary vessel for our consciousness.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
v.to cover or treat something with clay.
v.to apply clay to a surface, or to use clay in a purification process, such as in sugar refining.
Simple“The workers had to clay the bottom of the pond to stop the water from leaking out.”
In context“Historically, refiners would clay the sugar loaves to remove impurities and whiten the final product.”