gypsum

IPA/ˈdʒɪpsəm/
KK[dʒˈɪpsəm]IPA/ˈdʒɪpsəm/

gypsum — noun

1. a soft, light-coloured natural mineral that is dug from the ground and crushed i

1.nounB2
Definition

a soft, light-coloured natural mineral that is dug from the ground and crushed into a powder, used in building materials such as plaster, cement, and wallboard

Example

Théo mixed gypsum powder with water to fill the cracks in his bedroom wall.

collocation: gypsum powder / gypsum + water

Builders choose gypsum because it dries quickly and leaves a very smooth surface.

Common collocations
  • gypsum powder
  • gypsum board
  • gypsum deposit
  • gypsum mine
  • raw gypsum
  • ground gypsum
Synonyms
  • plaster

    plaster is the finished product made from gypsum powder mixed with water; gypsum is the raw mineral

  • alabaster

    alabaster is a fine-grained form of gypsum used for carving, not for building

Word family

  • gypseous
    adjectiveC2
  • gypsiferous
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Gypsum is the raw mineral, while plaster is the building material made from gypsum powder and water. Alabaster is a fine-grained, translucent variety of gypsum used mainly for decorative carving, not for construction. Chalk is a different soft white mineral (calcium carbonate) that is more crumbly and never used as a building material. Limestone is harder and also made of calcium carbonate; it is crushed for cement but does not have the same quick-setting property as gypsum. For example, you would say 'the walls are covered with gypsum plaster' but 'the statue is carved from alabaster.'

plaster ↗alabaster ↗chalk ↗limestone ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • plaster of Paris

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

The word gypsum comes from Latin gypsum, which was borrowed from Greek gypsos, meaning 'chalk' or 'plaster.' The mineral has been used since ancient times for building and art.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1