Ceramic: Definition, Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：made of baked clay (ceramic)

ceramic 🔊

/səˈræmɪk/

adj.

Something made of clay that has been shaped and then hardened by very high heat.

Ceramic mug illustration showing a smooth, glossy white coffee cup on a table.

made of baked clay 🔊

➕

/meɪd əv beɪkt kleɪ/

adj.

Describes an object, typically a dish, tile, or figurine, that is fashioned from clay and then hardened permanently by firing it in a kiln at very high temperatures.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'keramikos', relating to pottery, from 'keramos' (potter's clay).

💡 Mnemonic

Ceramic sounds like 'care a mic'. Imagine being careful with a microphone made of delicate baked clay that could break.

📖 Example

She prefers to eat off ceramic plates because they feel more substantial and cooler than plastic ones. 🔊 She prefers to eat off plates made of baked clay because they feel more substantial and cooler than plastic ones.

🔗 Collocations

ceramic tile – a flat piece of fired clay used for covering walls or floors

ceramic art – artistic works created from clay and fired

ceramic coating – a protective layer applied to surfaces that is ceramic-based

🔄 Synonyms

earthenware (n.) – pottery made of clay fired to a porous state

pottery (n.) – objects made from clay and hardened by heat

porcelain (n.) – a fine, white, translucent ceramic made from special clay

🚫 Antonyms

plastic (adj.) – made of synthetic polymer material

wooden (adj.) – made of wood

metallic (adj.) – made of or resembling metal

🌱 Derivatives

ceramics (n.) – the art or technology of making objects from clay; the objects themselves

ceramist (n.) – a person who makes ceramics; a potter

ceramography (n.) – the microscopic study of the structure and properties of ceramic materials

📖 Cultural Story

The term 'ceramic' originates from the Greek word for pottery ('keramos'). From ancient Greek vases to modern industrial tiles and aerospace heat shields, ceramics have evolved from a fundamental craft to a critical material science. Its name directly links to its original earth-based composition.