gypsum
[ jip-suh m ]
/ ˈdʒɪp səm /
noun
a very common mineral, hydrated calcium sulfate, CaSO4⋅2H2O, occurring in crystals and in masses, soft enough to be scratched by the fingernail: used to make plaster of Paris, as an ornamental material, as a fertilizer, etc.
Origin of gypsum
1640–50; < Latin: chalk < Greek
gýpsos chalk, gypsum
Words nearby gypsum
gypsies,
gypsiferous,
gypsophila,
gypsophile,
gypster,
gypsum,
gypsum board,
gypsum plaster,
gypsy,
gypsy cab,
gypsy capstan
Example sentences from the Web for gypsum
British Dictionary definitions for gypsum
gypsum
/ (ˈdʒɪpsəm) /
noun
a colourless or white mineral sometimes tinted by impurities, found in beds as an evaporite. It is used in the manufacture of plaster of Paris, cement, paint, school chalk, glass, and fertilizer. Composition: hydrated calcium sulphate. Formula: CaSO 4 .2H 2 O. Crystal structure: monoclinic
Derived forms of gypsum
gypseous (ˈdʒɪpsɪəs), adjective gypsiferous (dʒɪpˈsɪfərəs), adjectiveWord Origin for gypsum
C17: from Latin, from Greek
gupsos chalk, plaster, cement, of Semitic origin
Scientific definitions for gypsum
gypsum
[ jĭp′səm ]
A colorless, white, or pinkish mineral. Gypsum occurs as individual blade-shaped crystals or as massive beds in sedimentary rocks, especially those formed through the evaporation of saline-rich water. It is used in manufacturing plasterboard, cement, and fertilizers. Chemical formula: CaSO4·2H2O.