kaolin
|kay-ə-lin|
/ˈkeɪ.ə.lɪn/
white fine clay used in ceramics
Etymology
'kaolin' originates from Chinese, specifically the word 'Gaoling' (高嶺), where 'gao' meant 'high' and 'ling' meant 'ridge' or 'hill'.
'kaolin' changed from the Chinese place-name 'Gaoling' and entered European languages (via forms like French 'kaolin') before becoming the modern English word 'kaolin'.
Initially it referred specifically to the clay from the Gaoling area in China; over time it broadened to mean fine white clay (and the mineral kaolinite) used commercially worldwide.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a soft white clay used in the manufacture of porcelain, paper, and certain cosmetics and paints; a commercial name for fine clay composed mainly of the mineral kaolinite.
The factory uses kaolin as a primary ingredient in porcelain production.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the mineral kaolinite itself, a hydrated aluminum silicate that gives the clay its characteristic properties.
Samples showed a high percentage of kaolin (kaolinite) in the deposit.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/10/05 12:54