[al.a.bas.ter] n [ME alabastre, fr. MF, fr. L alabaster vase of alabaster, fr. Gk alabastros] (14c) 1: a compact fine-textured usu. 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 adj