Definition

1. Noun:
   • A natural, fine-grained earthy material: A type of soil composed of very small mineral particles, which becomes soft and moldable when wet and hard when dried or fired.
   • The human body, especially when mortal or dead: (Figurative) A literary or poetic term referring to the physical human form, often emphasizing its earthly, temporary nature.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Material):
  • The potter shaped the wet clay on her wheel.
  • The region has soil rich in clay, which is good for making bricks.
• Noun (Figurative: Human Body):
  • The poet wrote of returning our mortal clay to the earth.
  • He was but common clay, prone to the same faults as any man.

Advanced Usage

• "To have feet of clay": To have a fundamental flaw or weakness, especially in a person who is otherwise admired or respected.
  • The scandal revealed that the celebrated leader had feet of clay.
• "To moisten one's clay": (Archaic/Humorous) To have a drink, especially an alcoholic one.
  • After the long journey, he suggested they stop to moisten their clay.

Variants and Related Words

• Clayey (adj): Resembling, containing, or consisting of clay.
  • The clayey soil was difficult to dig.
• Claymation (n): A stop-motion animation technique using clay figures. (Note: This is a compound/portmanteau word from and ).
• Clay pipe (n): A tobacco pipe made from fired clay.

Synonyms

• Material: Argil, potter's clay, kaolin, loam, mud.
• Figurative (Body): Flesh, mortal coil, dust.

Related Phrases

• Modeling clay: A pliable substance used for sculpting, which may or may not contain natural clay.
  • The children used modeling clay to create animals.
• Fire clay: A type of clay resistant to high temperatures, used for making firebricks and furnaces.
• Baked clay: Clay that has been hardened by heat in a kiln or oven, such as in pottery or tiles.

Noun

1. the dead body of a human being
   • the cadaver was intended for dissection
   • the end of the police search was the discovery of a corpse
   • the murderer confessed that he threw the stiff in the river
   • honor comes to bless the turf that wraps their clay
2. United States politician responsible for the Missouri Compromise between free and slave states (1777-1852)
3. United States general who commanded United States forces in Europe from 1945 to 1949 and who oversaw the Berlin airlift (1897-1978)
4. water soaked soil; soft wet earth
5. a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired