Definitions for: Clay


[n] the dead body of a human being
[n] United States politician known as the Great Compromiser; responsible for the Missouri Compromise between free and slave states (1777-1852)
[n] United States general who commanded United States forces in Europe from 1945 to 1949 and who oversaw the Berlin airlift (1897-1978)
[n] soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
[n] water soaked soil; soft wet earth



Webster (1913) Definition: Clay (kl[=a]), n. [AS. cl[=ae]g; akin to LG. klei, D.
klei, and perh. to AS. cl[=a]m clay, L. glus, gluten glue,
Gr. gloio`s glutinous substance, E. glue. Cf. Clog.]
1. A soft earth, which is plastic, or may be molded with the
hands, consisting of hydrous silicate of aluminium. It is
the result of the wearing down and decomposition, in part,
of rocks containing aluminous minerals, as granite. Lime,
magnesia, oxide of iron, and other ingredients, are often
present as impurities.

2. (Poetry & Script.) Earth in general, as representing the
elementary particles of the human body; hence, the human
body as formed from such particles.

I also am formed out of the clay. --Job xxxiii.
6.

The earth is covered thick with other clay, Which
her own clay shall cover. --Byron.

Bowlder clay. See under Bowlder.

Brick clay, the common clay, containing some iron, and
therefore turning red when burned.

Clay cold, cold as clay or earth; lifeless; inanimate.

Clay ironstone, an ore of iron consisting of the oxide or
carbonate of iron mixed with clay or sand.

Clay marl, a whitish, smooth, chalky clay.

Clay mill, a mill for mixing and tempering clay; a pug
mill.

Clay pit, a pit where clay is dug.

Clay slate (Min.), argillaceous schist; argillite.

Fatty clays, clays having a greasy feel; they are chemical
compounds of water, silica, and aluminia, as halloysite,
bole, etc.

Fire clay, a variety of clay, entirely free from lime,
iron, or an alkali, and therefore infusible, and used for
fire brick.

Porcelain clay, a very pure variety, formed directly from
the decomposition of feldspar, and often called kaolin.


Potter's clay, a tolerably pure kind, free from iron.


Clay, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clayed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Claying.]
1. To cover or manure with clay.

2. To clarify by filtering through clay, as sugar.

Synonyms: cadaver, corpse, Henry Clay, Lucius Clay, Lucius DuBignon Clay, mud, remains, stiff

See Also: adobe, atomic number 14, bentonite, bleaching clay, bleaching earth, body, brick, china clay, china stone, clayware, cremains, daub, dead body, dirt, fireclay, full general, general, kaolin, kaoline, Kitty Litter, mud pie, pipeclay, pol, political leader, politician, politico, porcelain clay, potter's clay, potter's earth, pottery, red clay, roofing tile, Si, silicon, soil, terra alba, tile

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