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terra cotta

/ˌtɛrə ˌkɑdə/
IPA guide

Terra cotta is a natural-looking, reddish-brown kind of pottery. Sculpture, flower pots, and roof tiles can all be made of terra cotta.

Like other pottery, terra cotta is made of clay and baked in a very hot oven, or kiln. Archaeologists use the word to describe clay sculptures or figurines that aren't made on a potter's wheel but are molded by hand. Terra cotta is also used to refer to the red-brown color itself. Before the 14th century, all Western ceramics were terra cotta. The word means "cooked earth" in Italian.

Definitions of terra cotta
  1. noun
    hard, unglazed, brownish-red baked clay used for pottery or building material; an object made from this clay
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    type of:
    earthenware
    ceramic ware made of porous clay fired at low heat
  2. noun
    brownish-red color resembling fired clay
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