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

Therrien’s beards — fashioned from synthetic hair, plaster, stainless steel or aluminum — hang on wardrobe stands from hooks that would go over the wearer’s ears as part of a costume.

From Los Angeles Times

Cutouts of pink bras were plastered on the walls.

From Washington Post

"I will be taking photographs of my TV and it will be plastered all over Facebook."

From BBC

It has also ramped up a broader public relations campaign, plastering ads all over Washington that tout its promises of securing users’ data and privacy and creating a safe platform for its young users.

From Washington Times

“If you were having a dinner party, you wouldn’t post your address on a flyer and plaster it all over town as an open invitation,” said Colette Dong, the founder.

From New York Times

Related Words

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