alabaster

[ al-uh-bas-ter, -bah-ster ]

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.

adjective

1. made of alabaster:

   an alabaster column.

2. resembling alabaster; smooth and white:

   her alabaster throat.

alabaster

/ -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

adjective

1. of or resembling alabaster

Derived Forms

• ˌalaˈbastrine, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alabaster¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of alabaster¹

C14: from Old French alabastre, from Latin alabaster, from Greek alabastros

Example Sentences

The kitchen took on an alabaster sheen, as if someone had switched on the stage lighting.

From Slate

"There were fluted columns in African marble, alabaster columns, and stucco ornamentation decorated with gold leaf."

From DOGO News

She reads a couple of very vivid paragraphs about the “whiter-than-white, nearly alabaster, snowy, bleached Alps” in Switzerland, where her family went on vacation.

From Literature

The Idiot Zen master of disaster with the complexion of alabaster is Vlad "The Impaler" Putin.

From Salon

I hunkered down under the single umbrellaed table, slathering SPF 50 on my alabaster legs.

From Salon

Related Words

• porcelain