n.
Pronunciation: ' a-l ə - ˌ bas-t ə r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English alabastre, from Anglo-French albastre, from Latin alabaster vase of alabaster, from Greek alabastros
Date: 14th century
1 : a compact fine-textured usually white and translucent gypsum often carved into vases and ornaments
2 : a hard compact calcite or aragonite that is translucent and sometimes banded
– alabaster or al · a · bas · trine \ ˌ a-l ə - ' bas-tr ə n \ adjective