/ ˈplɑːstə(r); NAmE ˈplæs-/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] a substance made of lime , water and sand, that is put on walls and ceilings to give them a smooth hard surface :
an old house with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof
2.
(also less frequent ˌplaster of ˈParis ) [ U ] a white powder that is mixed with water and becomes very hard when it dries, used especially for making copies of statues or holding broken bones in place :
a plaster bust of Julius Caesar
( BrE )
She broke her leg a month ago and it's still in plaster .
—picture at injury
3.
(also ˈsticking plaster ) (both BrE ) (also ˈBand-Aid ™ NAmE , BrE ) [ C , U ] material that can be stuck to the skin to protect a small wound or cut; a piece of this
—picture at injury
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
to cover a wall, etc. with plaster
2.
plaster sb/sth in / with sth to cover sb/sth with a wet or sticky substance :
She plastered herself in suntan lotion.
We were plastered from head to foot with mud.
3.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to make your hair flat and stick to your head :
His wet hair was plastered to his head.
4.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to completely cover a surface with pictures or posters :
She had plastered her bedroom wall with photos of him.
She had photos of him plastered all over her bedroom wall.
The next day their picture was plastered all over the newspapers.
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- plaster over sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English , denoting a bandage spread with a curative substance, from medieval Latin plastrum (shortening of Latin emplastrum , from Greek emplastron daub, salve), later reinforced by the Old French noun plastre . Senses 1 and 2 date from late Middle English .