Definitions for Alabaster
al·abaster

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. alabasternoun

   a compact fine-textured, usually white gypsum used for carving

2. alabaster, oriental alabaster, onyx marble, Mexican onyxnoun

   a hard compact kind of calcite

3. alabasteradjective

   a very light white

4. alabaster, alabastrineadjective

   of or resembling alabaster

   "alabaster statue"

WiktionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. alabasternoun

   A fine-grained white or lightly-tinted variety of gypsum, used ornamentally.

2. alabasternoun

   A variety of calcite, translucent and sometimes banded.

3. alabasteradjective

   Made of alabaster

   The crown is stored in an alabaster box with an onyx handle and a gold lock.

4. alabasteradjective

   Resembling alabaster: white, pale, translucent.

   An ominous alabaster fog settled in the valley.

5. Etymology: From alabastre, from alabaster, from ἀλάβαστρος, from earlier ἀλάβαστος. This may further derive from the ancient word a-labaste (vessel of the Egyptian goddess Bast).

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alabasteradjective

   Made of alabaster.

   I cannot forbear reckoning part of an alabaster column, found in the ruins of Livia’s portico. It is of the colour of fire, and may be seen over the high altar of St. Maria in Campitello; for they have cut it into two pieces, and fixed it, in the shape of a cross, in a hole of the wall; so that the light passing through it, makes it look to those in the church, like a huge transparent cross of amber. Joseph Addison, on Italy.

2. Alabasternoun

   A kind of soft marble, easier to cut, and less durable, than the other kinds; some is white, which is most common; some of the colour of horn, and transparent; some yellow, like honey, marked with veins. The ancients used it to make boxes for perfumes. Savary.

   Etymology: ἀλάβαστϱον.

   Yet I’ll not shed her blood,
   Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,
   And smooth as monumental alabaster. William Shakespeare, Othello.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alabaster

   Alabaster is a mineral or rock that is soft, often used for carving, and is processed for plaster powder. Archaeologists and the stone processing industry use the word differently from geologists. The former use it in a wider sense that includes varieties of two different minerals: the fine-grained massive type of gypsum and the fine-grained banded type of calcite. Geologists define alabaster only as the gypsum type. Chemically, gypsum is a hydrous sulfate of calcium, while calcite is a carbonate of calcium.The two types of alabaster have similar properties. They are usually lightly colored, translucent, and soft stones. They have been used throughout history primarily for carving decorative artifacts.The calcite type is also denominated "onyx-marble", "Egyptian alabaster", and "Oriental alabaster" and is geologically described as either a compact banded travertine or "a stalagmitic limestone marked with patterns of swirling bands of cream and brown". "Onyx-marble" is a traditional, but geologically inaccurate, name because both onyx and marble have geological definitions that are distinct from even the broadest definition of "alabaster". In general, ancient alabaster is calcite in the wider Middle East, including Egypt and Mesopotamia, while it is gypsum in medieval Europe. Modern alabaster is probably calcite but may be either. Both are easy to work and slightly soluble in water. They have been used for making a variety of indoor artwork and carving, and they will not survive long outdoors. The two kinds are readily distinguished by their different hardnesses: gypsum alabaster (Mohs hardness 1.5 to 2) is so soft that a fingernail scratches it, while calcite (Mohs hardness 3) cannot be scratched in this way but yields to a knife. Moreover, calcite alabaster, being a carbonate, effervesces when treated with hydrochloric acid, while gypsum alabaster remains almost unaffected.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. alabaster

   Alabaster is a type of fine-grained, soft and often white or lightly colored sedimentary stone, often used for carving, sculpting and in construction. Primarily composed of gypsum, it is also often translucent, making it suitable for ornamental purposes or artwork.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Alabasternoun

   a compact variety or sulphate of lime, or gypsum, of fine texture, and usually white and translucent, but sometimes yellow, red, or gray. It is carved into vases, mantel ornaments, etc

2. Alabasternoun

   a hard, compact variety of carbonate of lime, somewhat translucent, or of banded shades of color; stalagmite. The name is used in this sense by Pliny. It is sometimes distinguished as oriental alabaster

3. Alabasternoun

   a box or vessel for holding odoriferous ointments, etc.; -- so called from the stone of which it was originally made

4. Etymology: [L. alabaster, Gr. 'ala`bastros, said to be derived fr. Alabastron, the name of a town in Egypt, near which it was common: cf. OF. alabastre, F. albtre.]

WikidataRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Alabaster

   Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite, a carbonate of calcium, also known as onyx-marble, Egyptian alabaster or Oriental alabaster, in geological terms is "a stalagmitic limestone marked with patterns of swirling bands of cream and brown". In general, but not always, ancient "alabaster" in Egypt and the Near & Middle East is calcite, and "alabaster" in medieval Europe is gypsum, and modern "alabaster" is probably calcite, but may be either. Both are easy to work, with an attractive appearance, and have been used for making a variety of artworks and objects, especially carvings for indoor use, as both are slightly water soluble, and will not survive long outdoors. The two kinds are distinguished from one another readily by differences in their relative hardness. The gypsum kind is so soft as to be readily scratched with a fingernail, while the calcite kind is too hard to be scratched in this way, although it does yield readily to a knife. Moreover, the calcite alabaster, being a carbonate, effervesces upon being touched with hydrochloric acid, whereas the gypsum alabaster, when thus treated, remains practically unaffected.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alabaster

   al′a-bas-tėr, n. a semi-transparent kind of gypsum or sulphate of lime: the fine limestone deposited as stalagmites and stalactites.—adj. made of alabaster.—adj. Alabas′trian. [Gr. alabastros, said to be derived from Alabastron, a town in Egypt.]

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ALABASTER

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Alabaster is ranked #159712 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Alabaster surname appeared 101 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Alabaster.
   
   96% or 97 total occurrences were White.

Matched Categories

1. • Calcite
   • Gypsum

How to pronounce Alabaster?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Alabaster in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Alabaster in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Alabaster in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Alabaster
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Alabaster
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=Alabaster
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabaster
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Alabaster
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Alabaster
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Alabaster
9. ^ Surnames Frequency by Census Records
   https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2010_surnames.html