plaster

American  

[plas-ter, plah-ster] / ˈplæs tər, ˈplɑ stər /

Archaic, plaister

noun

1. a composition, as of lime or gypsum, sand, water, and sometimes hair or other fiber, applied in a pasty form to walls, ceilings, etc., and allowed to harden and dry.

2. powdered gypsum.

3. plaster of Paris.

4. a solid or semisolid preparation spread upon cloth, plastic, or other material and applied to the body, especially for some healing purpose.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cover (walls, ceilings, etc.) with plaster.

2. to treat with gypsum or plaster of Paris.

3. to lay flat like a layer of plaster.

4. to daub or fill with plaster or something similar.

5. to apply a plaster to (the body, a wound, etc.).

6. to overspread with something, especially thickly or excessively.

   a wall plastered with posters.

7. Informal.

   1. to defeat decisively; trounce; drub.

   2. to knock down or injure, as by a blow or beating.

   3. to inflict serious damage or injury on by heavy bombing, shelling, or other means of attack.

plaster British  

/ ˈplɑːstə /

noun

1. a mixture of lime, sand, and water, sometimes stiffened with hair or other fibres, that is applied to the surface of a wall or ceiling as a soft paste that hardens when dry

2. an adhesive strip of material, usually medicated, for dressing a cut, wound, etc

3. short for mustard plaster plaster of Paris

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verb

1. to coat (a wall, ceiling, etc) with plaster

2. (tr) to apply like plaster

   she plastered make-up on her face

3. (tr) to cause to lie flat or to adhere

4. (tr) to apply a plaster cast to

5. slang (tr) to strike or defeat with great force

Other Word Forms

• plasterer noun
• plasteriness noun
• plasterlike adjective
• plastery adjective
• replaster verb (used with object)
• unplaster verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of plaster

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English, from Medieval Latin plastrum “plaster” (both medical and building senses), aphetic variant of Latin emplastrum, from Greek émplastron “salve,” alteration of émplaston, neuter of émplastos “daubed”; em- ², -plast

Example Sentences

“Intruders have set fires, burning holes in the floors and scorching wood wainscoting and pews. Empty beef jerky bags, discarded underwear and clumps of plaster litter the worn burgundy carpeting.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

During World War II, when metal was scarce, the trophies were made of painted plaster for three years, with winners later invited to exchange them for metal versions.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

One strike brought plaster down on their heads; another ground the whole plant to a halt.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 15, 2026

There are plaster figurines of women throwing stones at pro-Soviet government forces, or tending to wounded fighters, with one passing a rifle to a man.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

It missed Ben’s head by less than five feet, and tore a chunk of plaster out of the wall.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• adhesive
• cement
• glue
• lime
• mortar
• stucco