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.
Phrases and idioms:
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.
Derivatives:
plasterer n. plastery adj.
Etymology: ME f. OE & OF plastre or F plastrer f. med.L plastrum f. L emplastrum f. Gk emplastron