Definition

1. Noun:

   • A very light white: A color term describing a pale, pure white, often with a slightly translucent quality.
   • A hard, compact kind of calcite: A dense, often banded form of calcium carbonate, historically used for ornamental objects.
   • A compact fine-textured, usually white gypsum used for carving: A soft, easily carved mineral (hydrated calcium sulfate), typically white and sometimes translucent, used historically for sculptures, vases, and decorative items.

2. Adjective:

   • Of or resembling alabaster: Having the smooth, fine-grained, white, and often translucent appearance of the mineral alabaster.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The sculptor chose a block of pure alabaster for the bust.
  • The museum displayed an ancient Egyptian jar made of alabaster.
  • Her skin was the color of alabaster.

• Adjective:

  • She had an alabaster complexion.
  • The vase had an alabaster sheen.

Advanced Usage

• "Alabaster skin": A literary or descriptive phrase for very pale, smooth, and flawless skin.
  • The poet described the queen's alabaster skin.

Variants and Related Words

• Alabastrine (adj): Resembling alabaster; smooth and white.
  • The alabastrine columns gleamed in the sunlight.

Synonyms

• Noun (for the material): Gypsum (for the soft type), onyx marble (for the calcite type).
• Noun/Adjective (for the color/quality): Ivory, milky, pearly, translucent white.

Adjective

1. of or resembling alabaster
   • alabaster statue

Noun

1. a very light white
2. a hard compact kind of calcite
3. a compact fine-textured, usually white gypsum used for carving