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

1. \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.
   
   

2. \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.
   
   

1. 1. Particles in siliciclastic sediment that are smaller than 0.0039 millimeters in size, according to the Udden-Wentworth scale. Clay and silt are collectively classified as mud.
   2. A collective term for a large group of minerals that are found in great abundance in extremely fine-grained sediments or sedimentary rocks (i.e. shales).
2. Substrate (soil) particles generally smaller than 0.004 mm in diameter.

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.