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alabaster

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

1350–1400; <Latin <Greek alábastros; replacing Middle English alabastre<Middle French <Latin
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use alabaster in a sentence

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, adjective

Word Origin for alabaster

C14: from Old French alabastre, from Latin alabaster, from Greek alabastros
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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