alabaster

American  

[al-uh-bas-ter, -bah-ster] / ˈæl əˌbæs tər, -ˌbɑ stər /

noun

1. a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc.

2. Also called Oriental alabaster.  a variety of calcite, often banded, used or sold as alabaster.

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adjective

1. made of alabaster.

   an alabaster column.

2. resembling alabaster; smooth and white.

   her alabaster throat.

alabaster British  

/ -ˌbæstə, ˈæləˌbɑːstə /

noun

1. a fine-grained usually white, opaque, or translucent variety of gypsum used for statues, vases, etc

2. a variety of hard semitranslucent calcite, often banded like marble

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adjective

1. of or resembling alabaster

Other Word Forms

• alabastrine adjective

Etymology

Origin of alabaster

1350–1400; < Latin < Greek alábastros; replacing Middle English alabastre < Middle French < Latin

Example Sentences

The alabaster vase bears inscriptions in four ancient languages: Akkadian, Elamite, Persian, and Egyptian.

From Science Daily

Among the nearly 100 works on view are sculptures in iron, wood, alabaster and clay as well as drawings, collages and experimental works using paper.

From The Wall Street Journal

The exterior is covered in hieroglyphs and translucent alabaster cut into triangles with a pyramid shaped entrance.

From BBC

The infamous “waxworks” scene captures silent-era figures like Buster Keaton playing cards, their faces pure funereal alabaster.

From Los Angeles Times

Artefacts, including fragments of alabaster jars which bore the inscriptions of the names of Thutmose II and Hatshepsut, provided definitive evidence.

From BBC

Related Words

• porcelain