alabaster

IPA/ˈæləbɑːstə(r)/
KK[ˈæləbˌæstɚ]IPA/ˈæləbæstər/

alabaster — noun

1. a smooth, white or very pale stone that allows some light to pass through it, us

1.nounB2
Definition

a smooth, white or very pale stone that allows some light to pass through it, used especially for carving statues, vases, and other decorative objects

Example

The museum displayed a small alabaster statue of a dancer from ancient Egypt.

attributive: alabaster statue

Minho carefully carved the block of alabaster into the shape of a sleeping cat.

material noun: block of alabaster

Common collocations
  • white alabaster
  • carved alabaster
  • alabaster statue
  • alabaster vase
  • alabaster carving
  • block of alabaster
  • made of alabaster
Synonyms
  • gypsum

    alabaster is a fine-grained form of gypsum; 'gypsum' is a broader term that includes powder and plaster forms

  • marble

    marble is also used for carving but is harder, not translucent, and comes from limestone rather than gypsum

Grammar Patterns

alabaster + noun (attributive use)

Usage Note

Alabaster is an uncountable material noun. You cannot say 'an alabaster' to mean a single piece of the stone, but you can use it attributively before another noun, as in 'an alabaster statue' or 'alabaster columns'.

Common Mistakes

He bought an alabaster from the market.
He bought an alabaster bowl from the market.
Alabaster is uncountable; use it as a modifier before a countable noun.
The statue is made from alabaster stone.
The statue is made of alabaster.
'Alabaster' already names the stone; adding 'stone' is redundant.

2. a hard, semi-transparent type of calcite or aragonite, sometimes showing natural

2.nounC1
Definition

a hard, semi-transparent type of calcite or aragonite, sometimes showing natural colored bands, used as a decorative stone

Example

Geologists classify this banded alabaster as a variety of calcite rather than gypsum.

geology context: banded alabaster as calcite variety

The collection held a polished piece of calcite alabaster from a cave in Mexico.

Common collocations
  • hard alabaster
  • banded alabaster
  • calcite alabaster
  • polished alabaster
Synonyms
  • calcite

    the broader mineral group; alabaster in this sense is a specific translucent variety of calcite

  • aragonite

    another mineral form that produces hard alabaster, though less common than calcite

Usage Note

This sense is used mainly in mineralogy and geology. When referring to a specific variety, it can be used as a countable noun: 'several different alabasters were found in the region.'

Common Mistakes

This hard alabaster is a type of gypsum.
This hard alabaster is a type of calcite.
Sense 2 refers to calcite or aragonite, not gypsum (which is sense 1).

3. a city in central Alabama, United States, located just south of Birmingham

3.noun
Definition

a city in central Alabama, United States, located just south of Birmingham

Example

The Hassan family moved to Alabaster, Alabama, because of the good schools and quiet neighbourhoods.

proper noun: city name with state

Diego drove south from Birmingham to visit his cousin who lives in Alabaster.

Usage Note

This is a place name. Do not confuse it with the mineral 'alabaster' — the city name is unrelated in meaning and is always capitalised.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Alabaster, marble, soapstone, and onyx are all natural stones used for carving, but they differ in hardness, texture, and appearance. Alabaster is a fine-grained form of gypsum — it is relatively soft (easy to carve with hand tools) and slightly translucent, giving it a warm, glowing look when backlit. Marble is much harder, comes from metamorphosed limestone, and is generally opaque, making it suitable for large outdoor monuments. Soapstone is also soft like alabaster but feels greasy to the touch and comes in darker greys and greens rather than white. Onyx is a banded form of chalcedony that is extremely hard and often polished into jewellery or small luxury objects. Gypsum is the broader mineral category that includes alabaster, but also includes the powdery plaster used in construction. For example, a small indoor figurine is best carved from alabaster, while a large garden fountain would typically be made of marble.

marble ↗soapstoneonyx ↗gypsum ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • carved from alabaster
  • made of alabaster
  • carved in alabaster
  • a piece of alabaster

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'alabaster' came into English through Old French 'alabastre', from Latin 'alabaster', which was borrowed from Greek 'ἀλάβαστρος' (alábastros). The Greek word originally referred to a type of stone used to make small perfume vases that had no handles. These vases were called 'alabastra' in Latin. Over time, the name of the vase transferred to the stone itself. The modern city of Alabaster, Alabama, was named after the stone in the late 19th century, though no alabaster is actually mined there.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1