noun
pottery
PAH-tuh-ree/ˈpɑːtəri/
Ware made by shaping and firing clay.
The bowl, vase, and pitcher are finished pieces of pottery.
Etymology
Pottery originally named a potter’s workshop, the place where earthen vessels were made. The name extended to the craft or business and then to the clay vessels themselves.
In context
the chemical makeup of fired clay is an invaluable research tool because it acts like a snapshot of a time and place which means a single piece of broken pottery can open up a world of hidden secrets
More examples
- She wraps the pottery in towels before packing it.
- This pottery has a smooth blue glaze.
- Archaeologists uncover broken pottery near the ancient hearth.
Forms
pottery
potter noun — A person who shapes and fires clay.
Similar words
- ceramics
- Includes pottery and objects made from other fired mineral materials.
- earthenware
- Specifically refers to porous pottery fired at relatively low temperatures.