kaolin

or ka·o·line

[ key-uh-lin ]
/ ˈkeɪ ə lɪn /

noun

a fine white clay used in the manufacture of porcelain.

Origin of kaolin

1720–30; < French < Chinese (Wade-Giles) Kao1ling3, (pinyin) Gāolǐng mountain in Jiangxi province that yielded the first kaolin sent to Europe ( gāo high + lǐng hill)

OTHER WORDS FROM kaolin

ka·o·lin·ic, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for kaolin

British Dictionary definitions for kaolin

kaolin

kaoline

/ (ˈkeɪəlɪn) /

noun

a fine white clay used for the manufacture of hard-paste porcelain and bone china and in medicine as a poultice and gastrointestinal absorbent Also called: china clay, china stone

Derived forms of kaolin

kaolinic, adjective

Word Origin for kaolin

C18: from French, from Chinese Kaoling Chinese mountain where supplies for Europe were first obtained, from kao high + ling hill

Medical definitions for kaolin

kaolin
[ kāə-lĭn ]

n.

A fine white clay that, when powdered, is used as a demulcent and adsorbent and, in dentistry, as an agent that confers opacity and toughness to porcelain teeth.