1. A mixture of lime or gypsum with sand and water; hardens into a smooth solid; used to cover walls and ceilings
   "The workers applied a fresh coat of plaster to repair the damaged wall"
    
2. 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 moulds and sculptures and casts for broken limbs
   "The artist used plaster of Paris to create the sculpture"; "The doctor applied a plaster cast to the broken arm";
   - plaster of Paris
    
3. A surface of hardened plaster (as on a wall or ceiling)
   "there were cracks in the plaster";
   - plasterwork
    
4. A medical dressing consisting of a soft heated mass of meal or clay that is spread on a cloth and applied to the skin to treat inflamed areas or improve circulation etc.
   "The healer applied a warm plaster to soothe the patient's sore muscles";
   - poultice, cataplasm [archaic]
    
5. Adhesive tape used in dressing wounds
   "She applied adhesive plaster to cover the small cut"; "He applied sticking plaster to the small cut on his finger";
   - adhesive plaster, sticking plaster [Brit]

1. (masonry) coat with plaster
   "plaster the wall";
   - daub
    
2. Apply a heavy coat to
   "They plastered over the cracks in the ceiling";
   - plaster over, stick on
    
3. Cover conspicuously or thickly, as by pasting something on
   "The demonstrators plastered the hallways with posters";
   - beplaster [archaic]
    
4. Affix conspicuously
   "She plastered warnings all over the wall"
    
5. Apply a plaster cast to
   "plaster the broken arm"
    
6. (medicine) dress by covering with a therapeutic substance
   "The doctor plastered the wound";
   - poultice

Derived forms: plasters, plastering, plastered

Type of: adhesive tape, affix, calcium sulfate, calcium sulphate, coat, cover, covering material, dress, dressing, medical dressing, mixture, stick on, sticky tape, surface

Encyclopedia: Plaster, John