noun C1 Advanced Uncommon

plaster

PLAH-stuh

Plaster (noun) means a mixture of lime or gypsum, sand, and water that hardens into a smooth surface, used to coat walls and ceilings. Example: “The builders applied a fresh coat of plaster to the living room walls.”

noun

A mixture of lime or gypsum, sand, and water that hardens into a smooth surface, used to coat walls and ceilings.

"The builders applied a fresh coat of plaster to the living room walls."

An adhesive strip used to cover a small cut or wound.

"She put a plaster on the scrape on her knee."

verb

To cover a wall or surface with plaster.

"They plastered the ceiling before painting it."

To cover something thickly or completely, often figuratively.

"Posters were plastered across every wall of the venue."

How to use plaster

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA wall coating material, or (in British English) a small sticky bandage.

UK vs US

In British English, "plaster" is the everyday word for a small adhesive bandage; American English typically says "Band-Aid" or "bandage" instead.

Common pairings

plaster wall sticking plaster plaster cast plaster the wall

Word forms

plastered past tense, plasters plural, plasters singular

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Fill the gap

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The builders applied a fresh coat of _____ to the living room walls.

Etymology

From Latin emplastrum, "a medicinal plaster or bandage," shortened over time on its way through Old English and Old French.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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poultice daub stick on cataplasm beplaster plasterwork plaster over adhesive plaster sticking plaster

Related words

sticking smear beplaster cataplasm daub plasterwork poultice smudge

Rhymes for plaster

aster faster master taster Easter caster toaster blaster disaster alabaster Lancaster Doncaster

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Frequently asked questions

What does “plaster” mean?

The word “plaster” means a mixture of lime or gypsum, sand, and water that hardens into a smooth surface, used to coat walls and ceilings. In plain terms, a wall coating material, or (in British English) a small sticky bandage.

How do you pronounce “plaster”?

“Plaster” is pronounced PLAH-stuh (/ˈplæs.tɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “plaster” in a sentence?

Here is “plaster” used in a sentence: “The builders applied a fresh coat of plaster to the living room walls.”

What part of speech is “plaster”?

Depending on how it is used, “plaster” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “plaster” come from?

The word “plaster” comes from Latin. From Latin emplastrum, "a medicinal plaster or bandage," shortened over time on its way through Old English and Old French.

Is “plaster” a common word?

“Plaster” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “plaster” have?

“Plaster” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mixture of lime or gypsum, sand, and water that hardens into a smooth surface, used to coat walls and ceilings.

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