n. & v.
n. 1 a soft pliable mixture esp. of lime putty with sand or Portland cement etc. for spreading on walls, ceilings, etc., to form a smooth hard surface when dried. 2 Brit. = sticking-plaster (see STICK(2)). 3 hist. a curative or protective substance spread on a bandage etc. and applied to the body (mustard plaster).
v.tr. 1 cover (a wall etc.) with plaster or a similar substance. 2 (often foll. by with) coat thickly or to excess; bedaub (plastered the bread with jam; the wall was plastered with slogans). 3 stick or apply (a thing) thickly like plaster (plastered glue all over it). 4 (often foll. by down) make (esp. hair) smooth with water, cream, etc.; fix flat. 5 (as plastered adj.) sl. drunk. 6 apply a medical plaster or plaster cast to. 7 sl. bomb or shell heavily. plaster cast 1 a bandage stiffened with plaster of Paris and applied to a broken limb etc. 2 a statue or mould made of plaster. plaster of Paris fine white plaster made of gypsum and used for making plaster casts etc. plaster saint iron. a person regarded as being without moral faults or human frailty. plasterer n. plastery adj.
[ ME f. OE & OF plastre or F plastrer f. med.L plastrum f. L emplastrum f. Gk emplastron ]