ceramic

1 of 2

adjective

ce·​ram·​ic sə-ˈra-mik 

 especially British  kə-

: of or relating to the manufacture of any product (such as earthenware, porcelain, or brick) made essentially from a nonmetallic mineral (such as clay) by firing at a high temperature

also : of or relating to such a product

ceramic

2 of 2

noun

1

ceramics plural in form but singular in construction : the art or process of making ceramic articles

2

: a product of ceramic manufacture

Examples of ceramic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The jewel of the operation is an optical sorting machine, which uses high-speed cameras to distinguish pieces of glass from bits of metal, plastic, paper and the most common contaminant of the operation: ceramic fragments. —Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024

There isn’t exactly one piece of ceramic ware that stands out among the many archaeologists have found dating to the Ancestral Puebloan people. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Greek keramikos, from keramos potter's clay, pottery

First Known Use

Adjective

1850, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ceramic

1 of 2 adjective

ce·​ram·​ic sə-ˈram-ik 

: of or relating to the manufacture of a product (as earthenware, porcelain, or brick) made from a nonmetallic mineral by heating at high temperatures

ceramic

2 of 2 noun

1

plural : the art of making ceramic articles

2

: a product of ceramic manufacture