Definition: clay

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

clay
     n 1: soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
     2: water soaked soil; soft wet earth [syn: mud]
     3: United States general who commanded United States forces in
        Europe from 1945 to 1949 and who oversaw the Berlin
        airlift (1897-1978) [syn: Clay, Lucius Clay, Lucius
        DuBignon Clay]
     4: United States politician known as the Great Compromiser;
        responsible for the Missouri Compromise between free and
        slave states (1777-1852) [syn: Clay, Henry Clay]
     5: the dead body of a human being [syn: cadaver, corpse, stiff,
         remains]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Clay \Clay\ (kl[=a]), n. [AS. cl[=ae]g; akin to LG. klei, D.
   klei, and perh. to AS. cl[=a]m clay, L. glus, gluten glue,
   Gr. gloio`s glutinous substance, E. glue. Cf. Clog.]
   1. A soft earth, which is plastic, or may be molded with the
      hands, consisting of hydrous silicate of aluminium. It is
      the result of the wearing down and decomposition, in part,
      of rocks containing aluminous minerals, as granite. Lime,
      magnesia, oxide of iron, and other ingredients, are often
      present as impurities.

   2. (Poetry & Script.) Earth in general, as representing the
      elementary particles of the human body; hence, the human
      body as formed from such particles.

            I also am formed out of the clay.     --Job xxxiii.
                                                  6.

            The earth is covered thick with other clay, Which
            her own clay shall cover.             --Byron.

   Bowlder clay. See under Bowlder.

   Brick clay, the common clay, containing some iron, and
      therefore turning red when burned.

   Clay cold, cold as clay or earth; lifeless; inanimate.

   Clay ironstone, an ore of iron consisting of the oxide or
      carbonate of iron mixed with clay or sand.

   Clay marl, a whitish, smooth, chalky clay.

   Clay mill, a mill for mixing and tempering clay; a pug
      mill.

   Clay pit, a pit where clay is dug.

   Clay slate (Min.), argillaceous schist; argillite.

   Fatty clays, clays having a greasy feel; they are chemical
      compounds of water, silica, and aluminia, as halloysite,
      bole, etc.

   Fire clay, a variety of clay, entirely free from lime,
      iron, or an alkali, and therefore infusible, and used for
      fire brick.

   Porcelain clay, a very pure variety, formed directly from
      the decomposition of feldspar, and often called kaolin.
      

   Potter's clay, a tolerably pure kind, free from iron.

Clay \Clay\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clayed; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Claying.]
   1. To cover or manure with clay.

   2. To clarify by filtering through clay, as sugar.

Source: U.S. Gazetteer (1990)

Clay, KY (city, FIPS 15202)
  Location: 37.47688 N, 87.82042 W
  Population (1990): 1173 (533 housing units)
  Area: 2.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 42404
Clay, NY
  Zip code(s): 13041
Clay, WV (town, FIPS 15676)
  Location: 38.46275 N, 81.08019 W
  Population (1990): 592 (305 housing units)
  Area: 1.5 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 25043

Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Clay
   This word is used of sediment found in pits or in streets (Isa.
   57:20; Jer. 38:60), of dust mixed with spittle (John 9:6), and
   of potter's clay (Isa. 41:25; Nah. 3:14; Jer. 18:1-6; Rom.
   9:21). Clay was used for sealing (Job 38:14; Jer. 32:14). Our
   Lord's tomb may have been thus sealed (Matt. 27:66). The
   practice of sealing doors with clay is still common in the East.
   Clay was also in primitive times used for mortar (Gen. 11:3).
   The "clay ground" in which the large vessels of the temple were
   cast (1 Kings 7:46; 2 Chr. 4:17) was a compact loam fitted for
   the purpose. The expression literally rendered is, "in the
   thickness of the ground,", meaning, "in stiff ground" or in
   clay.