ceramic
UK /sɪˈɹæmɪk/ · US /səˈɹæmɪk/ adjective, noun
Forms ceramics keramic
- adjective Made of material produced by the high-temperature firing of inorganic, nonmetallic rocks and minerals. “A ceramic vase stood on the table.”
- noun (uncountable) A hard, brittle, inorganic, nonmetallic material, made by firing a material such as clay at a high temperature. “Joan made the dish from ceramic.”
- noun (countable) An object made of this material. “Joe had dozens of ceramics in his apartment.”
Etymology
From Ancient Greek κεραμικός (keramikós, “potter's”), from κέραμος (kéramos, “potter's clay”), perhaps from a pre-Hellenic word or from Proto-Indo-European *kerh₂- (“to heat, burn, fire”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of or pertaining to pottery; relating to the art of making earthenware; as, ceramic products; ceramic ornaments for ceilings.
Etymology [Gr. Keramic.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “ceramic”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details