What does "pottery" mean?

1. (objects made of clay) pots, dishes, and other items made of clay that have been baked in an oven to make them hard. 2. (the craft or hobby) the activity or skill of making things out of clay. 3. (a workshop) a place or shop where clay objects are made and sold.

pottery

US //ˈpɑtɝi// UK //pˈɒtəɹi// pot·tery

1 objects made of clay (n.)
B1 Intermediate

pots, dishes, and other items made of clay that have been baked in an oven to make them hard.

ceramic ware made of clay and hardened by heat. Uncountable in this sense.

Example

The museum has a beautiful collection of ancient Greek pottery.

Example

Archaeologists recovered fragments of glazed pottery from the site, suggesting the settlement had active trade links with neighbouring regions.
- ceramics
- earthenware
- crockery
2 the craft or hobby (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the activity or skill of making things out of clay.

the craft or art of the potter; the process of forming and firing clay vessels.

Example

She decided to take a pottery class on Tuesday nights to learn how to use a wheel.

Example

Mastering pottery requires significant patience, particularly when learning to centre the clay on a high-speed spinning wheel.
- ceramics
- craft

Show 1 more senseShow fewer

3 a workshop (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a place or shop where clay objects are made and sold.

a workshop or factory where a potter works and produces ceramic goods.

Example

We visited a small local pottery and bought some handmade mugs.

Example

The village is famous for its traditional pottery, where artisans have been using the same wood-fired kilns for generations.

Origin

From Old French poterie, from potier (“potter”), from the root of pot, equivalent to pot + -ery. First attested in the 13th century.