terra-cotta

noun

ter·​ra-cot·​ta ˌter-ə-ˈkä-tə 

often attributive

1

: a glazed or unglazed fired clay used especially for statuettes and vases and architectural purposes (as for roofing, facing, and relief ornamentation)

also : something made of this material

2

: a brownish orange

Examples of terra-cotta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The original gold terra-cotta dome and decorations of dolphins and cupids overlook Main Street. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026

Clay and terra-cotta containers lose moisture faster, and black containers retain more heat. —Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026

Davis points to a project that paired two different colors, Portola’s Coda and Patagonia, an off-white ivory and a warm gold-and-terra-cotta leaning beige. —Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026

Inspired by Mediterranean pieces, this coverlet is styled best with terra-cotta floors, a humble wood side table, and a small impressionist painting above a four-poster bed. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian terra cotta, literally, baked earth

First Known Use

1722, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for terra-cotta

• biota
• iota
• lakota
• nonquota
• ricotta
• chota
• cota
• quota

Kids Definition

terra-cotta

noun

ter·​ra-cot·​ta

ˌter-ə-ˈkät-ə

plural terra-cottas

1

: a glazed or unglazed baked clay used for pottery, statues, and building materials

also : something made of this material

2

: a brownish orange

Etymology

from Italian terra cotta, literally "baked earth," derived from Latin terra "earth" and Latin coquere "to cook"