Is 'figuline' a common word?

No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or highly specialised.

Can 'figuline' describe something fragile?

Yes, by extension it can metaphorically describe something as delicate as pottery.

What is the origin of 'figuline'?

It comes from Latin 'figulinus', from 'figulus' meaning potter.

Is there a noun form of 'figuline'?

Not in standard use. The related noun 'figulina' exists in Italian for pottery, but 'figuline' in English is an adjective.

Is “figuline” formal?

Figuline is usually literary / archaic in register.

How do you pronounce “figuline”?

Figuline: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɪɡjʊlaɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɪɡjəˌlaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

figuline: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Rare / Obsolete

UK/ˈfɪɡjʊlaɪn/US/ˈfɪɡjəˌlaɪn/

Literary / Archaic

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “figuline” mean?

made of pottery or clay.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

made of pottery or clay; relating to a potter.

fragile, delicate, or of a material reminiscent of earthenware.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No practical difference in modern usage due to extreme rarity. Historically, it might appear more in British antiquarian writings.

Connotations

Evokes a sense of antiquity, fragility, and craftsmanship. It carries a poetic or scholarly tone.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in both varieties, bordering on obsolete.

Grammar

How to Use “figuline” in a Sentence

Adjective + noun (e.g., figuline artefact)

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

figuline warefiguline artfiguline vessel

medium

figuline fragmentancient figulinedelicate figuline

weak

figuline objectsmall figulinebroken figuline

Examples

Examples of “figuline” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

The museum acquired a collection of exquisite figuline vases from the Roman period.

American English

The archaeologist carefully brushed dirt from the figuline shards.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

May appear in archaeology, art history, or classical studies texts describing ancient pottery.

Everyday

Virtually never used.

Technical

Specialist term in ceramics history or museology.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “figuline”

Strong

terracottafictile

Neutral

ceramic earthenware pottery

Weak

clay brittlefragile

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “figuline”

metallicsturdydurableindestructible

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “figuline”

Using it as a noun for a small figure (incorrect; it's an adjective).
Pronouncing it as /fɪˈɡjuːlɪn/.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or highly specialised.
: Yes, by extension it can metaphorically describe something as delicate as pottery.
: It comes from Latin 'figulinus', from 'figulus' meaning potter.
: Not in standard use. The related noun 'figulina' exists in Italian for pottery, but 'figuline' in English is an adjective.
: made of pottery or clay.
: Figuline is usually literary / archaic in register.
: Figuline: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɪɡjʊlaɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɪɡjəˌlaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“None”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'FIGURE made of CLAY' → a clay figure is FIGULINE.

Conceptual Metaphor

FRAGILITY IS BEING EARTHENWARE (e.g., 'their figuline agreement shattered easily').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The statuette, though thousands of years old, retained traces of its original paint.

Multiple Choice

In which field would you most likely encounter the word 'figuline'?