terracotta
terracotta Lexical Profile
terracotta Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Made of unglazed, typically brownish-red earthenware clay.
"The courtyard was lined with terracotta pots overflowing with fragrant Mediterranean herbs."
Having a warm brownish-red or brownish-orange color.
"She wore a terracotta linen dress that complemented the warm tones of the autumn afternoon."
• noun
A hard, typically unglazed, brownish-red earthenware clay used for pottery, sculpture, and architectural ornamentation.
"The ancient artisans molded the figurines from local terracotta before firing them in large kilns."
A warm brownish-red or brownish-orange color resembling baked clay.
"They painted the dining room walls a rich terracotta to give the space a warm, rustic feel."
A statuette, relief, or decorative vessel made of baked brownish-red clay.
"The museum's classical wing displays a remarkable collection of Greek terracottas dating back to the fourth century BC."
• Rhymes for terracotta
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 18th century from Italian 'terra cotta', literally meaning 'baked earth', from Latin 'terra' (earth) and 'cocta', the feminine past participle of 'coquere' (to cook or bake).