The term ceramics comes from the Greek and was used to describe many types of clay and other substances used to make pottery. The artist takes moist clay, forms and strengthens the clay by drying through the use of heat, which is known as firing. This gives ceramics a hard finish. After they cool, the ceramic pieces may be glazed and decorated. The pottery or ceramics are baked in an "oven" called a kiln (which can reach very high temperatures), to harden the clay quickly.