noun
gypsum
JIHP-suhm
Gypsum (noun) means a soft mineral made of hydrated calcium sulphate, used to make plaster and drywall. Example: “Gypsum is mined and processed to make plaster of Paris.”
noun
1
A soft mineral made of hydrated calcium sulphate, used to make plaster and drywall.
"Gypsum is mined and processed to make plaster of Paris."
"Besides being abundant, gypsum is easily refined into a powder for plaster or formed into sheets of wallboard."
— Robert M. Jones, editor, Walls and Ceilings (1980)
How to use gypsum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft white mineral used to make plaster and wallboard.
Common pairings
gypsum board
gypsum plaster
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Word forms
- Plural
- gypsums, gypsa
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ is mined and processed to make plaster of Paris.
Etymology
From Latin gypsum, from Greek gypsos.
Frequently asked questions
What does “gypsum” mean?
The word “gypsum” means a soft mineral made of hydrated calcium sulphate, used to make plaster and drywall. In plain terms, a soft white mineral used to make plaster and wallboard.
How do you pronounce “gypsum”?
“Gypsum” is pronounced JIHP-suhm (/ˈd͡ʒɪp.səm/ in IPA).
How do you use “gypsum” in a sentence?
Here is “gypsum” used in a sentence: “Gypsum is mined and processed to make plaster of Paris.”
What part of speech is “gypsum”?
“Gypsum” is a noun.
Where does the word “gypsum” come from?
The word “gypsum” comes from Latin. From Latin gypsum, from Greek gypsos.
