alabaster

al·a·bas·ter

noun \ˈa-lə-ˌbas-tər\

Definition of ALABASTER

1

: a compact fine-textured usually white and translucent gypsum often carved into vases and ornaments

2

: a hard calcite or aragonite that is translucent and sometimes banded

— alabaster or al·a·bas·trine \ˌa-lə-ˈbas-trən\ adjective

Origin of ALABASTER

Middle English alabastre, from Anglo-French albastre, from Latin alabaster vase of alabaster, from Greek alabastros

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Mineralogy Terms

agate, host, inclusion, matrix, streak

Rhymes with ALABASTER

burgomaster, cellar master, China aster, concertmaster, criticaster, ghetto blaster, harbormaster, mustard plaster, oleaster, overmaster, poetaster, quartermaster, stationmaster, telecaster, wagon master, weathercaster, Zoroaster

Al·a·bas·ter

geographical name \ˈa-lə-ˌbas-tər\

Definition of ALABASTER

city cen Alabama S of Birmingham pop 22,619

alabaster

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Fine-grained gypsum that has been used for centuries for statuary, carvings, and other ornaments. It normally is snow-white and translucent but can be artificially dyed; it may be made opaque and similar in appearance to marble by heat treatment. Florence, Livorno, Milan, and Berlin are important centres of the alabaster trade. The alabaster of the ancients was a brown or yellow onyx marble.