alabaster
Americannoun
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a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc.
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Also called Oriental alabaster. a variety of calcite, often banded, used or sold as alabaster.
adjective
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made of alabaster.
an alabaster column.
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resembling alabaster; smooth and white.
her alabaster throat.
noun
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a fine-grained usually white, opaque, or translucent variety of gypsum used for statues, vases, etc
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a variety of hard semitranslucent calcite, often banded like marble
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of alabaster
1350–1400; < Latin < Greek alábastros; replacing Middle English alabastre < Middle French < Latin
Explanation
Alabaster is a pale mineral that's soft enough for carving. In museums, you're likely to see statues and vases carved from alabaster. The root of alabaster is a Greek word meaning "perfume vase," alabastros. You'll also find ancient tomb carvings, windows in medieval cathedrals, and Egyptian sarcophagi made of alabaster. Alabaster is usually white, and because it is translucent, seems lit from within. For this reason, it often describes a pale complexion that seems to glow from the inside.
Vocabulary lists containing alabaster
The Cay
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Wonder
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White
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mitchell, who is from Alabaster, Alabama, was a five-star prospect rated the 34th-best player and No. 3 safety in the 247Composite rankings.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 21, 2023
When the family moved to Alabaster, Ala., Taulia played his final two high school seasons in a football-obsessed area an hour up the road from Tuscaloosa, where Tua soon became a star.
From Washington Post • Sep. 3, 2021
Bryan worked as an ear, nose and throat physician in Alabaster.
From Washington Times • Mar. 11, 2021
Alabaster and I never completely stopped seeing each other, although we dated other people.
From New York Times • Jan. 17, 2020
Then I spray painted the whole thing white with the paint I had gotten for the Alabaster Sphinx I was making for the Egyptian Museum project.
From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
