alabaster Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a compact fine-textured, usually white gypsum used for carving
noun a hard compact kind of calcite
oriental alabaster; onyx marble; Mexican onyx.
noun a very light white
adjective of or resembling alabaster
alabastrine.
- alabaster statue

L. alabaster, Gr. , said to be derived fr. Alabastron, the name of a town in Egypt, near which it was common: cf. OF. alabastre, F. albâtre.

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A box or vessel for holding odoriferous ointments, etc.; -- so called from the stone of which it was originally made.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