plaster

 
Pronunciation: /ˈplɑːstə/

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] a soft mixture of sand and cement and sometimes lime with water, for spreading on walls, ceilings, or other structures, to form a smooth hard surface when dried: strip away the plaster to expose the bare brick [as modifier]: the crumbling plaster ceiling
  • (also plaster of Paris) a hard white substance made by the addition of water to powdered and partly dehydrated gypsum, used for holding broken bones in place and making sculptures and casts: he had both arms in plaster [as modifier]: a small plaster statue of Our Lady
  • the powder from which plaster of Paris is made.
  • 2 (also sticking plaster) British an adhesive strip of material for covering cuts and wounds: waterproof plasters [mass noun]: a large piece of plaster on her forehead
  • dated a bandage on which a poultice or liniment is spread for application. See mustard plaster.

verb

[with object]
  • 1cover (a wall, ceiling, or other structure) with plaster: the inside walls were plastered and painted the old windows have been filled and plastered over
  • (plaster something with/in) coat or cover something with (a substance), especially to an extent considered excessive: a face plastered in heavy make-up
  • [with object and adverbial] make (hair) lie flat by applying a liquid to it: his hair was plastered down with water
  • [with object and adverbial] display widely and conspicuously: her story was plastered all over the December issue
  • 2apply a plaster cast or medical plaster to (a part of the body).
  • 3 informal, dated bomb or shell (a target) heavily: are they expecting the air force to plaster the city tonight or what?

Derivatives

plastery

adjective

Origin:

Old English, denoting a bandage spread with a curative substance, from medieval Latin plastrum (shortening of Latin emplastrum, from Greek emplastron 'daub, salve'), later reinforced by the Old French noun plastre. Sense 1 dates from late Middle English