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 primary bedroom is dramatic too, with deep green plaster walls, a terra-cotta Ivan Da Silva Bruhns rug, and bamboo blinds. —Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 12 July 2024

Place the stem bundle inside a terra-cotta pot, add straw around the pot sides for insulation, and then position the pot on its side about 3 feet above the ground in a sunny section of your yard. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2024

This steamer comes as a set in three sizes (1.2L, 2.3L, and 4L), complete with a finished ceramic pot, a matching lid with steaming holes, and a bamboo steaming basket that has a terra-cotta base. —Andrew Watman, WIRED, 29 June 2024

Biddle’s 20 abstract works of ceramic and glass, a mix of circular portals and rib-like forms, hang in a cluster directly next to her mother’s 1994 terra-cotta sculpture Hoist. —Grace Edquist, Vogue, 20 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian terra cotta, literally, baked earth

First Known Use

1722, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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"