plaster

1 of 2

noun

plas·​ter ˈpla-stər How to pronounce plaster (audio)
1
: a medicated or protective dressing that consists of a film (as of cloth or plastic) spread with a usually medicated substance
adhesive plaster
broadly : something applied to heal and soothe
2
: a pasty composition (as of lime, water, and sand) that hardens on drying and is used for coating walls, ceilings, and partitions
plastery adjective

plaster

2 of 2

verb

plastered; plastering ˈpla-st(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce plaster (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to overlay or cover with plaster : coat
2
: to apply a plaster to
3
a
: to cover over or conceal as if with a coat of plaster
b
: to apply as a coating or incrustation
c
: to smooth down with a sticky or shiny substance
plastered his hair down
4
: to fasten or apply tightly to another surface
5
: to treat with plaster of paris
6
: to affix to or place on especially conspicuously or in quantity
7
: to inflict heavy damage or loss on especially by a concentrated or unremitting attack

intransitive verb

: to apply plaster
plasterer noun

Examples of plaster in a Sentence

Noun put a plaster on the burn and don't touch it Verb We plastered and sanded the walls before painting them. They plastered the walls with posters. Someone had plastered a political poster on the wall. His clothes were plastered to his body from the rain. He plastered his hair down with gel.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The house has plaster walls, a curved staircase, original hardwood pegged flooring on the second level, a balcony off the back from the primary bedroom, two fireplaces — one in the living room and one in the primary bedroom — and large windows throughout that allow for lots of light. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024 Adorned with custom plaster crown moldings and a stunning crystal chandelier, the dining room is perfect for hosting lavish gatherings. Karen A. Avitabile, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2024 Some drivers tried anyway. 2023 was another rough year for President Joe Biden as some tried to plaster phrases like FKJBIDN and FBJ IN 24 on their cars. Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 3 Jan. 2024 Carving was usually outsourced to skilled artisans, who worked from the artist’s plaster original, but Claudel was a perfectionist and carved this entirely herself. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2023 Some bedrooms have vaulted ceilings with elegant wall coverings, while others are more traditional in style with large windows and plaster walls. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2024 This Moroccan textured plaster has the potential to level up any bathroom. Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2023 The home has oil heating and plaster walls, records indicate. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2024 Made of natural lime plaster, each treatment is carefully tended to and one of a kind. Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2023
Verb
On a recent afternoon, several stickers could be found in a trendy neighborhood of central Kyiv, plastered in cafes. Daria Mitiuk, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The walls are plastered with old concert posters and heavily graffitied with signatures, and the patrons are as diverse as the international flags hanging overhead. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 On Tuesday, Turning Classic Movies announced that Foster, 61, will have her hand and footprint plastered into the ground outside the area's famous TCL Chinese Theatre during the 15th annual TCM Classic Film Festival on April 19. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 Dutcher emerged from the locker room at the Save Mart Center with a wry smile plastered across his face. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024 School projects are still plastered on the walls; books are strewn on tables; apples sit uneaten in the cafeteria. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2024 In the Bay Area, his name is plastered across the city. Dara Kerr, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024 The entire vertical surface area of the modest space was plastered with American flags, bald eagles, and at least one fake Thomas Jefferson quote. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2024 Police in Los Angeles have arrested two men suspected to be part of a group that has been plastering graffiti across 30 floors of an under-construction high-rise building. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plaster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin emplastrum, from Greek emplastron, from emplassein to plaster on, from en- + plassein to mold, plaster; perhaps akin to Latin planus level, flat — more at floor

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plaster was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near plaster

Cite this Entry

“Plaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaster. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

plaster

1 of 2 noun
plas·​ter ˈplas-tər How to pronounce plaster (audio)
1
: a medicated or protective dressing consisting of a film (as of cloth or plastic) spread with a substance that clings to the skin
adhesive plaster
2
: a paste (as of lime, water, and sand) that hardens on drying and is used for coating walls and ceilings
plastery adjective

plaster

2 of 2 verb
plastered; plastering -t(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce plaster (audio)
1
: to apply a plaster to
2
: to cover over as if with a coat of plaster
3
: to smooth down with a sticky or shiny substance
plastered my hair down
4
: to fasten or apply tightly to another surface
wet clothes plastered to his body
5
: to affix to or place on especially in large numbers
plaster posters to a wall
6
: to apply plaster
plasterer noun

Medical Definition

plaster

noun
plas·​ter ˈplas-tər How to pronounce plaster (audio)
: a medicated or protective dressing that consists of a film (as of cloth or plastic) spread with a usually medicated substance
adhesive plaster

More from Merriam-Webster on plaster

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