clay   (klā)    n.   A fine-grained, firm earthy material that is plastic when wet and hardens when heated, consisting primarily of hydrated silicates of aluminum and widely used in making bricks, tiles, and pottery. A hardening or nonhardening material having a consistency similar to clay and used for modeling. Geology A sedimentary material with grains smaller than 0.002 millimeters in diameter. Moist sticky earth; mud. The human body as opposed to the spirit. [Middle English clei, from Old English clæg.] clay'ey (klā'ē), clay'ish adj.

Clay

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 

clay   (klā)  Pronunciation Key  A stiff, sticky sedimentary material that is soft and pliable when wet and consists mainly of various silicates of aluminum. Clay particles are smaller than silt, having a diameter less than 0.0039 mm. Clay is widely used to make bricks, pottery, and tiles.

Clay

This word is used of sediment found in pits or in streets (Isa. 57:20; Jer. 38:60), of dust mixed with spittle (John 9:6), and of potter's clay (Isa. 41:25; Nah. 3:14; Jer. 18:1-6; Rom. 9:21). Clay was used for sealing (Job 38:14; Jer. 32:14). Our Lord's tomb may have been thus sealed (Matt. 27:66). The practice of sealing doors with clay is still common in the East. Clay was also in primitive times used for mortar (Gen. 11:3). The "clay ground" in which the large vessels of the temple were cast (1 Kings 7:46; 2 Chr. 4:17) was a compact loam fitted for the purpose. The expression literally rendered is, "in the thickness of the ground,", meaning, "in stiff ground" or in clay.

clay

In addition to the idiom beginning with clay, also see feet of clay.