Ceramic Vocab

2. The process of shaping clay on a potter's wheel.
6. The reduction in size of clay pieces as they dry and are fired in the kiln.
9. The stage in clay drying when it is still moist but firm enough to handle without warping.
11. A high-temperature oven used to fire ceramics, transforming clay into a hard, durable form.
12. A liquid mixture of clay and water used to join clay pieces together or as a decorative surface.
14. A simple hand-building technique where a ball of clay is pinched into shape using the fingers.
15. A hand-building technique where long rolls of clay are stacked to create forms.
17. The firing of pottery after it has been glazed, which melts the glaze and fuses it to the clay body.
18. Clay that is completely dry and ready to be fired. At this stage, it is fragile and susceptible to breaking.

1. A technique used to attach pieces of clay together. The surfaces are scored (scratched) and slip is applied before joining them.
3. Unfired pottery that is dry and ready to be bisque fired.
4. A glassy coating applied to pottery, which melts and fuses to the clay body during firing, providing a decorative finish and waterproofing.
5. The process by which clay becomes glass-like and impervious to water during firing.
7. A temperature-measuring device made from clay and glaze materials that melts at a specific temperature, used to gauge kiln temperatures.
8. A process of kneading clay to remove air bubbles and create a uniform texture.
10. A technique of rolling out flat sheets of clay, which can then be cut and assembled to create forms.
13. Unglazed pottery that has been fired once. It is ready to be glazed and then fired again.
16. A Japanese pottery technique where the pottery is removed from the kiln while still hot and placed into a container with combustible materials, creating unique glaze effects.