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

Travelers can take it all in, plus a panoramic view of the city’s terra-cotta rooftops, from one of Lisbon’s many lookout towers, such as Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, the team suggests. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026

The entryway already had terra-cotta and white checkerboard tile floors, so Miller doubled down on pattern and added a 1920s-style leafy wallpaper from Bradbury & Bradbury. —Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026

Potted purple flowers stood at the entrance of the carpet in large terra-cotta planters. —Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026

Keep any broken terra-cotta pots to use as drainage shards in the bottom. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 May 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"