ceramic

adjective ce·ram·ic \ sə-ˈra-mik , especially British kə- \

Updated on: 14 May 2018

Definition of ceramic

: 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

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Recent Examples of ceramic from the Web

These oversized mugs come in a set of two and feature double-wall ceramic construction, which keeps the outside cool and the inside piping hot.

— the editors, Outside Online, "8 Last-Minute Mother's Day Gifts from Huckberry," 8 May 2018
Pick a ceramic piece to paint for a Mother’s Day gift.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "Pirate Festival, stage shows mark Mother's Day weekend," 8 May 2018
There’s a potting room with cedar shelving, a ceramic counter, hot and cold water and a copper trough.

— judy rose, Detroit Free Press, "Lake Huron home, built by Carhartt granddaughter, rustic and elegant," 5 May 2018
At one point his yard had been littered with ceramic toilets and sinks, and 55-gallon drums.

— josh kovner, courant.com, "Homeowners In North Haven Explosion Identified, Were Going Through A Divorce," 4 May 2018
Small ceramic jars of Dijon sit on each table; there’s Kronenbourg 1664 on tap and an expansive list of aperitifs and digestifs; waiters wear black bowties and white button downs.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Valley’s New Petit Trois Might Be The Most French Restaurant in L.A.," 2 May 2018
To preserve Dylan’s original name for the whiskey, the company will issue an annual Bootleg Series in limited editions, in ceramic bottles decorated with his oil and watercolor paintings.

— ben sisario, BostonGlobe.com, "Knockin’ back Heaven’s Door: Bob Dylan is making whiskey now," 2 May 2018
Then we were passed along a beautiful ceramic spoon rest from Italy, and I was immediately sold.

— becky krystal, ajc, "Five cheap kitchen tools that make cooking and cleaning way easier," 30 Apr. 2018
The scents in the test are organized in a series of miniature ceramic tagines, from lightest to heaviest.

— john brodie, Town & Country, "Why Some Perfumers Are Betting That Fragrance Gets Better With Age," 30 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ceramic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ceramic

Greek keramikos, from keramos potter's clay, pottery

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1850

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

ceramic

noun

Definition of ceramic

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

2 : a product of ceramic manufacture

Recent Examples of ceramic from the Web

Several hundred students are enrolled in the college's photography, drawing, illustration, animation, ceramics, graphic design, and introduction to studio art, according to fine arts professor and gallery Director Chair Mark Szantyr.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "QVCC's Spirol Gallery Features Spring Student Show," 9 May 2018
In 1796, a ship called the Sydney Cove set sail from Calcutta, India, en route to the colony of Port Jackson, New South Wales, bearing cargo of tea, ceramics, rice, tobacco and alcohol.

— marissa fessenden, Smithsonian, "Australian Brewers Are Making Beer From Yeast Found on a Shipwreck," 7 May 2018
Its ceramics come in four colors inspired by the California coastline: Daybreak (pink), Midnight (deep navy), Fog (light gray) and Moon (off-white).

— New York Times, "Disrupting the Dishes," 5 May 2018
Vendors include Fern, Una Floral, Too Legit to Quilt, Paperreka, luvkt, Fireside Pizza, four eyes ceramics, AV Beauty bar, wooden hill, Posy Prints, H&B, Straydear, and Spruce Nail Salon. Artmaking activities provided by Cincinnati Art Museum.

— luann gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Fun and free things to do this weekend in Cincinnati," 3 May 2018
Just over the drawbridge, step inside a tiny space with paintings, ceramics, and sculptures, not all of them Cape-themed.

— brenna donovan, BostonGlobe.com, "Eight things to do in Woods Hole while you’re waiting for the ferry," 2 May 2018
Emerging artist Mia Badham makes sculptures of paper and ceramics, and finds inspiration in concepts of time and memory.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "A guide to how to choose art for your home," 24 Apr. 2018
Why you won't be disappointed: Take a 10-minute drive north to Tubac, an arts colony packed with studios and shops offering paintings, ceramics, glassware and much more.

— scott craven, azcentral, "National Park Week means free admission on April 21. Here's how to take advantage in Arizona," 20 Apr. 2018
High school students from Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista will display hundreds of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography and mixed media at the local outpost for the National Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 503 Mission Ave.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Days of Art this weekend in Oceanside," 12 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of ceramic

1859

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

CERAMIC Defined for English Language Learners

ceramic

adjective

Definition of ceramic for English Language Learners

: made of clay that has been heated to a very high temperature so that it becomes hard

CERAMIC Defined for Kids

ceramic

noun ce·ram·ic \ sə-ˈra-mik \

Definition of ceramic for Students

1 ceramics plural : the art of making things (as pottery or tiles) of baked clay

2 : a product made by baking clay

Learn More about ceramic

See words that rhyme with ceramic Spanish Central: Translation of ceramic Nglish: Translation of ceramic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ceramic for Arabic speakers

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ceramic

Definition of ceramic

Recent Examples of ceramic from the Web

Origin and Etymology of ceramic

ceramic

Definition of ceramic

Recent Examples of ceramic from the Web

First Known Use of ceramic

CERAMIC Defined for English Language Learners

ceramic

Definition of ceramic for English Language Learners

CERAMIC Defined for Kids

ceramic

Definition of ceramic for Students

Learn More about ceramic

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ceramic

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Origin and Etymology of ceramic

ceramic

Definition of ceramic

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First Known Use of ceramic

CERAMIC Defined for English Language Learners

ceramic

Definition of ceramic for English Language Learners

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ceramic

Definition of ceramic for Students

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