plaster

(plastər, pläs-)

noun

  1. a pasty mixture, as of lime or gypsum, sand, and water, which hardens on drying, for coating walls, ceilings, and partitions
  2. plaster of Paris
  3. a pasty preparation spread on cloth and applied to the body, used medicinally as a curative or counterirritant

Origin: ME < OE plaster & OFr plastre, both < LL plastrum, for L emplastrum < Gr emplastron, plaster < emplassein, to daub over < en, on, in + plassein, to form: see plastic

transitive verb

  1. to cover, smear, overlay, etc. with or as with plaster
  2. to apply or affix like a plaster: to plaster posters on walls
  3. to make lie smooth and flat
  4. to apply plaster of Paris as a treatment
  5. Informal to affect or strike with force

Related Forms:

See plaster in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A mixture of lime or gypsum, sand, and water, sometimes with fiber added, that hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls and ceilings.
  2. Plaster of Paris.
  3. A pastelike mixture applied to a part of the body for healing or cosmetic purposes. Also called sticking plaster.
  4. Chiefly British An adhesive bandage.
verb plas·tered, plas·ter·ing, plas·ters
verb, transitive
  1. To cover, coat, or repair with plaster.
  2. To cover or hide with or as if with a coat of plaster: plastered over our differences.
  3. To apply a plaster to: plaster an aching muscle.
  4. a. To cover conspicuously, as with things pasted on; overspread: plaster the walls with advertising.
    b. To affix conspicuously, usually with a paste: plaster notices on all the doors.
  5. To make smooth by applying a sticky substance: plaster one's hair with pomade.
  6. To make adhere to another surface: “His hair was plastered to his forehead” (William Golding).
  7. Informal
    a. To inflict heavy damage or injury on.
    b. To defeat decisively.
verb, intransitive
To apply plaster.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English, medical dressing

Origin: , and from Old French plastre, cementing material

Origin: , both from Latin emplastrum, medical dressing

Origin: , from Greek emplastron

Origin: , from emplassein, to plaster on

Origin: : en-, in, on; see en-2

Origin: + plassein, to mold; see pelə-2 in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

  • plasˈter·er noun
  • plasˈter·y adjective

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