Adjacent Words

Kaolin definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

KA'OLIN, n. A species of earth or variety of clay, used as one of the two ingredients in the oriental porcelain. The other ingredient is called in China petunse. Its color is white, with a shade of gray, yellow or red.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a fine usually white clay formed by the weathering of aluminous minerals (as feldspar); used in ceramics and as an absorbent and as a filler (e.g., in paper) [syn: china clay, china stone, kaolin, kaoline, porcelain clay, terra alba]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: French kaolin, from Gaoling hill in China Date: circa 1741 a fine usually white clay that is used in ceramics and refractories, as a filler or extender, and in medicine especially as an adsorbent in the treatment of diarrhea

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a fine soft white clay produced by the decomposition of other clays or feldspar, used esp. for making porcelain and in medicines. Also called china clay. Derivatives: kaolinic adj. kaolinize v.tr. (also -ise). Etymology: F f. Chin. gaoling the name of a mountain f. gao high + ling hill

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Kaolin Ka"o*lin, Kaoline Ka"o*line, n. [Chin. kao-ling.] (Min.) A very pure white clay, ordinarily in the form of an impalpable powder, and used to form the paste of porcelain; China clay; porcelain clay. It is chiefly derived from the decomposition of common feldspar. Note: The name is now applied to all porcelain clays which endure the fire without discoloration.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.