Clay - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Clay :  (noun)
1: a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
2: water soaked soil; soft wet earth [syn: mud]
3: United States general who commanded United States forces in Europe from 1945 to 1949 and who oversaw the Berlin airlift (1897-1978) [syn: Clay, Lucius Clay, Lucius DuBignon Clay]
4: United States politician responsible for the Missouri Compromise between free and slave states (1777-1852) [syn: Clay, Henry Clay, the Great Compromiser]
5: the dead body of a human being [syn: cadaver, corpse, stiff, remains]

Based on WordNet 2.0

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.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Clay : \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.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Clay, KY (city, FIPS 15202) Location: 37.47688 N, 87.82042 W Population (1990): 1173 (533 housing units) Area: 2.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 42404 Clay, NY Zip code(s): 13041 Clay, WV (town, FIPS 15676) Location: 38.46275 N, 81.08019 W Population (1990): 592 (305 housing units) Area: 1.5 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 25043

Based on U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [Census_Database]:

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.



Based on U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [Census_Database]:
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