What does terracotta mean?
Word: Terracotta
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Terracotta means reddish-brown clay that has been baked but not glazed, used for pots, tiles and small figures; also its reddish-brown colour.
Synonyms: baked clay, earthenware
Word origin: From Italian terra cotta.
How do you spell terracotta?
Syllables: ter - ra - cot - ta
Tricky part: The first part has a double r; students who hear one r write teracotta. In British English it is one word.
Watch out for: teracotta, terrakotta
Memory tip: Terracotta begins like terrace and territory, with terr.
Terracotta in a sentence
Example 1: Many old buildings in Bengal are decorated with terracotta panels.
Example 2: We bought a terracotta pot for the basil plant.
Example 3: Our art teacher showed us how the terracotta horses of Bankura are made.
Fun Fact
China's Terracotta Army is a set of thousands of life-size clay figures made more than 2,200 years ago for the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
Practise the CREST Way
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option:
Terracotta comes from the Italian words terra cotta. What do they literally mean?
a) soft stone
b) red earth
c) baked earth
d) river mud
Show answer
c) baked earth. In Italian terra is earth and cotta is cooked, so terracotta is earth that has been baked.
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) earthenware
b) terracota
c) stoneware
d) enamel
Show answer
b) terracota. The second half of the word needs a double t.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with their meanings:
1. terracotta 2. mosaic 3. fresco a. a picture painted on wet plaster on a wall b. a picture made of small pieces of coloured stone or glass c. the brownish-orange fired clay of many flowerpots
a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Show answer
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. Terracotta is fired clay, a mosaic is pieced together and a fresco is painted into wet plaster.
Word Tally
Score 1 mark for each correctly spelt word. How many marks in all?
terracotta, porcelin, ceramic, pottery, sculpter
a) 5
b) 4
c) 2
d) 3
Show answer
d) 3. Porcelain needs an a before its i, and sculptor ends in -or, so three words score.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Unglazed terracotta usually feels ___ to the touch.
a) soft and spongy
b) smooth and glassy
c) cold and metallic
d) slightly rough and dry
Show answer
d) slightly rough and dry
2. Why does water stay cool in an unglazed terracotta pot?
a) the pot is kept in a fridge
b) the clay is painted white
c) water seeps through and evaporates
d) clay makes water heavier
Show answer
c) water seeps through and evaporates
