alabastrine

Variant of alabaster

alabaster definition

ala·bas·ter (al′ə bas′tər)

noun

  1. a translucent, whitish, fine-grained variety of gypsum, used for statues, vases, etc.
  2. a variety of calcite found esp. in stalactites and stalagmites: it is sometimes streaked or mottled like marble

Etymology: ME < OFr alabastre < L alabaster < Gr alabastros, earlier alabastos, vase for perfumes (often made of alabaster), prob. < Egypt *ʼa-labaste, vessel of (the goddess) Bast

adjective

of or like alabaster; esp., smooth and white

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.