alabaster
[ al-uh-bas-ter, -bah-ster ]
/ ˈæl əˌbæs tər, -ˌbɑ stər /
noun
a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc.
Also called Oriental alabaster.
a variety of calcite, often banded, used or sold as alabaster.
adjective Also al·a·bas·trine [al-uh-bas-trin] /ˌæl əˈbæs trɪn/.
made of alabaster: an alabaster column.
resembling alabaster; smooth and white: her alabaster throat.
Origin of alabaster
1350–1400; < Latin < Greek
alábastros; replacing Middle English
alabastre < Middle French < Latin
Words nearby alabaster
ala.,
alabama,
alabamian,
alabamine,
alabandite,
alabaster,
alabastos,
alabastron,
alabastrum,
alacant,
alack
Example sentences from the Web for alabaster
British Dictionary definitions for alabaster
alabaster
/ (ˈæləˌbɑːstə, -ˌbæstə) /
noun
a fine-grained usually white, opaque, or translucent variety of gypsum used for statues, vases, etc
a variety of hard semitranslucent calcite, often banded like marble
adjective
of or resembling alabaster
Derived forms of alabaster
alabastrine, adjectiveWord Origin for alabaster
C14: from Old French
alabastre, from Latin
alabaster, from Greek
alabastros