Definition

1. Noun:
   • A soft, white or colorless mineral composed of hydrated calcium sulfate (CaSO₄·2H₂O). It is a common evaporite mineral that is mined for use in a wide variety of industrial applications, most notably to produce plaster and plasterboard.

Usage

• Noun:
  • Gypsum is a key ingredient in drywall and wallboard.
  • The white cliffs in that region are composed primarily of gypsum.
  • Farmers sometimes add powdered gypsum to soil to improve its structure and drainage.

Advanced Usage

• "Alabaster": A fine-grained, translucent form of gypsum, often used for ornamental carvings and statues.
  • The ancient vase was carved from a single block of alabaster.
• "Selenite": A transparent, crystalline variety of gypsum, often forming in clear, tabular crystals.
  • The museum displayed a beautiful specimen of selenite from Mexico.

Variants and Related Words

• Gypsiferous (adj): Containing or yielding gypsum.
  • The gypsiferous soil was not suitable for most crops.
• Gypsum board (n): A common name for drywall or plasterboard, a panel made of a gypsum core between paper facings.
• Plaster of Paris: A fine white powder (calcined gypsum) that forms a quick-setting paste when mixed with water, used for casts and molds.

Synonyms

• Calcium sulfate dihydrate: The chemical name for the mineral.
• Hydrated calcium sulphate: An alternative chemical description.

Related Phrases

• "To mine gypsum": The process of extracting the mineral from the earth.
  • The company plans to mine gypsum from the newly discovered deposit.
• "Gypsum deposit": A natural accumulation of the mineral.
  • A large gypsum deposit was found during the geological survey.

Related Idioms

Noun

1. a common white or colorless mineral (hydrated calcium sulphate) used to make cements and plasters (especially plaster of Paris)