Fired clay can be called by different names depending on the stage of firing and the context in which it is used. Here are some of the terms used to refer to fired clay:

• Ceramic: Clay is called ceramic after the first firing, or bisque firing, which hardens the clay but does not make it waterproof. Ceramic is a term used to refer to objects made of clay fired sufficiently high in temperature for a chemical change to take place in the clay body.

• Bisqueware: After the first firing, the clay is called bisqueware. Bisqueware is unglazed and porous, and it is often used as a base for glazing.

• Glazeware: After the second firing, the clay is called glazeware. Glazeware is ceramic that has been coated with a layer of glaze, which makes it waterproof and gives it a smooth, glossy finish.

• Fire clay: Fire clay is a range of refractory clays used in the manufacture of ceramics, especially fire brick. It is resistant to high temperatures, having fusion points higher than 1,600 °C (2,910 °F), and it is suitable for lining furnaces, as fire brick, and for the manufacture of utensils used in the metalworking industries, such as crucibles, saggars, retorts, and glassware.

In summary, fired clay can be called ceramic, bisqueware, glazeware, or fire clay, depending on the context and the stage of firing.