# pottery

/ˈpɑtɝi/ (US) · /pˈɒtəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pottery
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. objects made of clay

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The museum has a beautiful collection of ancient Greek pottery.
- Archaeologists recovered fragments of glazed pottery from the site, suggesting the settlement had active trade links with neighbouring regions.

### 2. the craft or hobby

noun · CEFR B1

the activity or skill of making things out of clay.

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

- She decided to take a pottery class on Tuesday nights to learn how to use a wheel.
- Mastering pottery requires significant patience, particularly when learning to centre the clay on a high-speed spinning wheel.

### 3. a workshop

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- We visited a small local pottery and bought some handmade mugs.
- The village is famous for its traditional pottery, where artisans have been using the same wood-fired kilns for generations.

## Examples

- She takes a pottery class every Tuesday evening.
- The museum displays ancient Greek pottery that was found buried deep under the city streets.
- While industrial manufacturing produces uniform ceramics, handmade pottery often retains the subtle fingerprints of the artist, giving each vessel a unique character and texture.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.