alabaster

noun

al·​a·​bas·​ter ˈa-lə-ˌba-stər 

1

: a compact fine-textured usually white and translucent gypsum often carved into vases and ornaments

2

: a hard calcite or aragonite that is translucent and sometimes banded

alabaster adjective

or alabastrine

ˌa-lə-ˈba-strən 

Examples of alabaster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Statement lighting is also at play in Eddie Maestri’s music salon, with a chandelier and alabaster sconces by Jiun Ho. —Anne Lee Phillips, Architectural Digest, 28 Oct. 2024

The collection includes funerary stelae, busts or statues, and features a lot of the translucent golden-yellow calcite alabaster that is commonly found in funerary art of ancient southwestern Arabia. —Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Oct. 2024

Some of her favorites to look out for include brass, marble, onyx, and alabaster, just to name a few. —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2024

The pharaoh was buried in a gilded wooden coffin that was nested inside of an alabaster sarcophagus and a larger granite sarcophagus. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English alabastre, from Anglo-French albastre, from Latin alabaster vase of alabaster, from Greek alabastros

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

alabaster

noun

al·​a·​bas·​ter ˈal-ə-ˌbas-tər 

1

: a smooth usually white and nearly transparent gypsum used for carving (as vases)

2

: a hard calcite that is nearly transparent and sometimes has stripes

Geographical Definition

Alabaster

geographical name

Al·​a·​bas·​ter ˈa-lə-ˌba-stər 

city in central Alabama south of Birmingham population 30,352