Library / English Dictionary

GYPSUM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A common white or colorless mineral (hydrated calcium sulphate) used to make cements and plasters (especially plaster of Paris)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("gypsum" is a kind of...):

mineral (solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition)

calcium sulfate; calcium sulphate (a white salt (CaSO4))

Meronyms (substance of "gypsum"):

atomic number 20; Ca; calcium (a white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light; the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust; an important component of most plants and animals)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gypsum"):

alabaster (a compact fine-textured, usually white gypsum used for carving)

gesso (gypsum or plaster of Paris spread on a surface to make it suitable for painting or gilding (or a surface so prepared))

terra alba (finely pulverized gypsum used especially as a pigment)

Holonyms ("gypsum" is a substance of...):

plaster; plaster of Paris (any of several gypsum cements; a white powder (a form of calcium sulphate) that forms a paste when mixed with water and hardens into a solid; used in making molds and sculptures and casts for broken limbs)

Credits