alabaster

noun

al·​a·​bas·​ter ˈa-lə-ˌba-stər 

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 adjective

or alabastrine

ˌa-lə-ˈba-strən 

Examples of alabaster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some of her favorites to look out for include brass, marble, onyx, and alabaster, just to name a few. —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2024

The pharaoh was buried in a gilded wooden coffin that was nested inside of an alabaster sarcophagus and a larger granite sarcophagus. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2024

One of the first on display is a ten-inch alabaster statuette of a goddess. —Peter Frankopan, Foreign Affairs, 7 June 2019

Jewelry collections are displayed alongside French objets d’art, such as alabaster lamps by designer Pierre Chareau, with an Art Deco aesthetic. —Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

alabaster

noun

al·​a·​bas·​ter ˈal-ə-ˌbas-tər 

1

: a smooth usually white and nearly transparent gypsum used for carving (as vases)

2

: a hard calcite that is nearly transparent and sometimes has stripes

Geographical Definition

Alabaster

geographical name

Al·​a·​bas·​ter ˈa-lə-ˌba-stər 

city in central Alabama south of Birmingham population 30,352