alabaster
3 synonyms and 0 antonyms for alabaster, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A soft, fine-grained white or pale-tinted stone (a form of gypsum) often carved into ornaments and small sculptures.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use alabaster
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French alabastre, ultimately from Ancient Greek alabastros, a word for a handleless vase used to store perfume — possibly traced back to an Egyptian phrase referring to a vessel of the goddess Bast.
Full origin of alabaster →Frequently asked questions
What does “alabaster” mean?
The word “alabaster” means a soft, fine-grained white or pale-tinted stone (a form of gypsum) often carved into ornaments and small sculptures. In plain terms, a soft white ornamental stone, or the pale, smooth quality that stone has.
How do you pronounce “alabaster”?
“Alabaster” is pronounced AL-uh-bahs-tuh (/ˈæl.əˌbæs.tɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “alabaster” in a sentence?
Here is “alabaster” used in a sentence: “The museum's prize piece was a delicate alabaster vase carved centuries ago.”
What part of speech is “alabaster”?
Depending on how it is used, “alabaster” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “alabaster” come from?
The word “alabaster” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French alabastre, ultimately from Ancient Greek alabastros, a word for a handleless vase used to store perfume — possibly traced back to an Egyptian phrase referring to a vessel of the goddess Bast.
How many meanings does “alabaster” have?
“Alabaster” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, fine-grained white or pale-tinted stone (a form of gypsum) often carved into ornaments and small sculptures.