Definitions for alabaster
al·abaster

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. alabaster(noun)

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

2. alabaster, oriental alabaster, onyx marble, Mexican onyx(noun)

   a hard compact kind of calcite

3. alabaster(adj)

   a very light white

4. alabaster, alabastrine(adj)

   of or resembling alabaster

   "alabaster statue"

Wiktionary(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. alabaster(Noun)

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

2. alabaster(Noun)

   A variety of calcite, translucent and sometimes banded.

3. alabaster(Adjective)

   Made of alabaster

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

4. alabaster(Adjective)

   Resembling alabaster: white, pale, translucent.

   An ominous alabaster fog settled in the valley.

Origin: 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) .

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Alabaster(noun)

   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. Alabaster(noun)

   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. Alabaster(noun)

   a box or vessel for holding odoriferous ointments, etc.; -- so called from the stone of which it was originally made

Origin: [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.]

Freebase(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

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 Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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.]

How to pronounce alabaster ?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

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

Images & Illustrations of alabaster

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