terracotta
/ˌterəˈkɒtə/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌterəˈkɑːtə/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌter.əˈkɒt.ə/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌter.əˈkɑː.t̬ə/ (ame, ipa)
terracotta — noun
1. a natural clay material that hardens during firing in a kiln, taking on a warm r
a natural clay material that hardens during firing in a kiln, taking on a warm reddish-brown look; used since ancient times for roof tiles, bricks, garden pots, and small sculptures.
The garden centre sells large terracotta pots for growing lemon trees on the patio.
collocation: terracotta pots
Andrés bought unglazed terracotta roof tiles to restore the old farmhouse in the hills.
material property: unglazed terracotta
The terracotta army in China is made up of thousands of life-sized clay soldiers.
Chiara prefers terracotta garden pots because the clay lets the soil breathe naturally.
- earthenware
a broader term for clay pottery fired at lower temperatures; terracotta is a type of earthenware
- fired clay
describes the material directly; less specific than 'terracotta'
- porcelain
a white, fine-grained, higher-fired ceramic, very different in look and feel from terracotta
用法筆記
Terracotta has been used in architecture since ancient times. The word comes from Italian 'terra cotta', meaning 'baked earth'. The material is porous and often left unglazed for garden pots and roof tiles. When glazed, it becomes waterproof and is sometimes used for decorative tiles and tableware.
常見錯誤
2. a warm brown colour that has a noticeable amount of red in it, close to the natu
a warm brown colour that has a noticeable amount of red in it, close to the natural look of fired terracotta clay.
Hassan chose warm terracotta for the living room walls to add a cosy feel.
pattern: a warm shade of terracotta
Nadia's new handbag is a beautiful terracotta that goes well with autumn outfits.
The sunset painted the sky in shades of pink, orange, and deep terracotta.
Asher picked a terracotta-coloured scarf to match his brown leather jacket.
- russet
a reddish-brown colour, but usually describes autumn leaves or fabrics rather than a general colour name
- rust
a similar reddish-brown, but more orange and associated with oxidized iron
- burnt sienna
a darker, earthier reddish-brown used in art and painting
文法句型
a warm terracotta
shades of terracotta
terracotta — adjective
- terracottapositive
- more terracottacomparative
- most terracottasuperlative
1. describing something that has a warm brownish-red colour, similar to the colour
describing something that has a warm brownish-red colour, similar to the colour of fired terracotta clay — often used for paint, fabric, clothing, or décor.
Salma wore a long terracotta dress to the autumn wedding reception last Saturday.
attributive use: terracotta dress
The bedroom walls are painted a soft terracotta colour that makes the room feel cosy.
pattern: a soft terracotta colour
Zola bought terracotta cushions to add warmth to her grey fabric sofa.
These plates have a lovely terracotta glaze that gives them an earthy, handmade look.
- terracotta-coloured
a more explicit way to say the same thing, avoiding confusion with the material sense
用法筆記
This sense refers only to the colour, not the material. A 'terracotta dress' is the colour of terracotta but made of fabric. To indicate the material, use the adjective sense MADE OF TERRACOTTA instead.
常見錯誤
2. produced or built using fired terracotta clay, which gives the item a hard, heav
produced or built using fired terracotta clay, which gives the item a hard, heavy feel and the characteristic reddish-brown colour of the material.
The museum displays several terracotta statues that were dug up at an ancient Greek site.
attributive: terracotta statues (material)
A large terracotta vase stood in the corner of the hallway, filled with dried flowers.
Minho's grandmother keeps her olive oil in a traditional terracotta jar from Crete.
The old farmhouse roof has curved terracotta tiles that protect against heavy rain.
- earthenware
similar material but a broader category; terracotta is a specific type of earthenware
- clay
generic; 'clay pot' is less specific than 'terracotta pot'
用法筆記
This sense refers to the actual material of the object. To distinguish from the colour-only meaning, check if the item could realistically be made of fired clay: a 'terracotta pot' is made of the material; a 'terracotta dress' is only the colour. When context is unclear, use 'terracotta-coloured' for the colour meaning.