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
plastered; plastering
ˈpla-st(ə-)riŋ 
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
: to apply plaster
Synonyms
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
Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 26 Mar. 2024
Most of these structures are sunken into the ground, built with a number of large stones that interlock together with some sort of plaster connecting them.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024
It was hidden under layers of wallpaper, plaster and paint.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 23 Feb. 2024
Check out its elaborate rooms and the decorative plasters, all of which have withstood erosion and time.
—Adam Lapetina, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2024
Most visually striking are Isabella Whitfield’s meticulous layouts of individual rice grains, placed in rows fixed by plaster and clay inside large flat bowls that are mounted on the wall.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
For example, there’s an impressive speaker system hidden in the ceilings between the drywall and plaster.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024
While the painting’s side borders and top quarter are intact, its middle and bottom sections appear to have been ripped away, leaving jagged plaster edges.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024
The bedrooms continue the home’s moody elegance with shades of gray, layered textiles, and long rows of dark linen curtains that bring softness to the plaster walls and angular furniture.
—Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2024
Mansee Khurana, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Explore Billie Eilish See latest videos, charts and news
After changing her Instagram icon to blue last week and plastering teaser posters of lyrics across major cities, Eilish delivered a clever promotional stunt: adding her millions of followers to her Close Friends stories on the app.
—Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2024
Rhys might as well have a sign plastered across his forehead saying KISS ME.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
The company runs a handful of hotels and office buildings, as well as 15 golf clubs, around the country, all with the Trump name plastered across the front.
—Alex Lemonides, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024
Ethics investigation Photos of Suarez glad-handing with developers and celebrities at VIP sporting events and exclusive parties are plastered across social media.
—Susan Merriam, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
When winter and early spring rains come to the Southland, the San Gabriel Mountains above L.A. get plastered with powder (cue incredible vistas).
—Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Bong plastered a blow-up of Vattendahl's portrait on the nose of the plane, according to a Pacific Wrecks' summary of the plane's service.
—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2024
Bryant’s name is plastered across one side with banners showing the Laker’s regular season mark of 67-15 and their postseason win-loss record of 15-8.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024
Noun
Experts previously believed that the quicklime used to plaster walls was pre-mixed with water before it was used, but the recent discoveries instead show how workers mixed it with water on site before using it.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 26 Mar. 2024
Most of these structures are sunken into the ground, built with a number of large stones that interlock together with some sort of plaster connecting them.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024
It was hidden under layers of wallpaper, plaster and paint.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 23 Feb. 2024
Check out its elaborate rooms and the decorative plasters, all of which have withstood erosion and time.
—Adam Lapetina, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2024
Most visually striking are Isabella Whitfield’s meticulous layouts of individual rice grains, placed in rows fixed by plaster and clay inside large flat bowls that are mounted on the wall.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
For example, there’s an impressive speaker system hidden in the ceilings between the drywall and plaster.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024
While the painting’s side borders and top quarter are intact, its middle and bottom sections appear to have been ripped away, leaving jagged plaster edges.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024
The bedrooms continue the home’s moody elegance with shades of gray, layered textiles, and long rows of dark linen curtains that bring softness to the plaster walls and angular furniture.
—Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2024
Verb
The names of Harvard students who signed onto a statement from the student group Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee were plastered on billboards near the university's campus.
—Mansee Khurana, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Explore Billie Eilish See latest videos, charts and news
After changing her Instagram icon to blue last week and plastering teaser posters of lyrics across major cities, Eilish delivered a clever promotional stunt: adding her millions of followers to her Close Friends stories on the app.
—Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2024
Rhys might as well have a sign plastered across his forehead saying KISS ME.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
The company runs a handful of hotels and office buildings, as well as 15 golf clubs, around the country, all with the Trump name plastered across the front.
—Alex Lemonides, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024
Ethics investigation Photos of Suarez glad-handing with developers and celebrities at VIP sporting events and exclusive parties are plastered across social media.
—Susan Merriam, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
When winter and early spring rains come to the Southland, the San Gabriel Mountains above L.A. get plastered with powder (cue incredible vistas).
—Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Bong plastered a blow-up of Vattendahl's portrait on the nose of the plane, according to a Pacific Wrecks' summary of the plane's service.
—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2024
Bryant’s name is plastered across one side with banners showing the Laker’s regular season mark of 67-15 and their postseason win-loss record of 15-8.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 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
Phrases Containing plaster
Dictionary Entries Near plaster
Cite this Entry
“Plaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaster. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
plaster
1 of 2 noun
plas·ter
ˈplas-tər
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
plaster
2 of 2 verb
plastered; plastering
-t(ə-)riŋ
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
More from Merriam-Webster on plaster
Nglish: Translation of plaster for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of plaster for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plaster
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