'Terra alba' definitions:
Definition of 'terra alba'
From: WordNet
noun
Finely pulverized gypsum used especially as a pigment
noun
Fine white clay used in making tobacco pipes and pottery and in whitening leather [syn: pipeclay, terra alba]
noun
A fine usually white clay formed by the weathering of aluminous minerals (as feldspar); used in ceramics and as an absorbent and as a filler (e.g., in paper) [syn: china clay, china stone, kaolin, kaoline, porcelain clay, terra alba]
Definition of 'Terra alba'
From: GCIDE
- Terra \Ter"ra\, n. [It. & L. See Terrace.] The earth; earth. [1913 Webster]
- Terra alba [L., white earth] (Com.), a white amorphous earthy substance consisting of burnt gypsum, aluminium silicate (kaolin), or some similar ingredient, as magnesia. It is sometimes used to adulterate certain foods, spices, candies, paints, etc.
- Terra cotta. [It., fr. terra earth + cotta, fem. of cotto cooked, L. coctus, p. p. of coquere to cook. See Cook, n.] Baked clay; a kind of hard pottery used for statues, architectural decorations, figures, vases, and the like.
- Terrae filius [L., son of the earth], formerly, one appointed to write a satirical Latin poem at the public acts in the University of Oxford; -- not unlike the prevaricator at Cambridge, England.
- Terra firma [L.], firm or solid earth, as opposed to water.
- Terra Japonica. [NL.] Same as Gambier. It was formerly supposed to be a kind of earth from Japan.
- Terra Lemnia [L., Lemnian earth], Lemnian earth. See under Lemnian.
- Terra ponderosa [L., ponderous earth] (Min.), barite, or heavy spar.
- Terra di Sienna. See Sienna. [1913 Webster]