plaster

plas|ter¹ [ˈpla:stə US ˈplæstər] n

[Date: 900-1000; : Latin; Origin: emplastrum, from Greek, from emplassein 'to plaster on', from plassein; PLASTIC²]

1.) [U]

a substance used to cover walls and ceilings with a smooth, even surface. It consists of ↑lime, water, and sand.

2.) [U] ↑plaster of Paris

↑Band-Aid, ↑bandage, ↑plaster, ↑scissors

3.) [U and C] BrE

a piece of thin material that is stuck on to the skin to cover a small wound

American Equivalent: bandaid

4.) in plaster

BrE if you have a leg or arm in plaster, you have a ↑plaster cast around it because a bone is broken and needs to be kept in place while it mends

plaster ²

plaster² v [T]

1.) [usually passive]

to put a wet, usually sticky substance all over a surface so that it is thickly covered

plaster sth with sth

▪ Her face was plastered with make-up.

2.) [usually passive]

to completely cover a surface with something, especially large pieces of paper, pictures etc

plaster sth with sth

▪ The windows were plastered with notices.

▪ The news of the wedding was plastered all over the papers (=was the main story in the newspapers) .

3.) to put wet plaster on a wall or ceiling

4.) [usually passive]

to make your hair lie flat or stick to your head

plaster sth to sth

▪ His hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat.

plaster sth down/back

▪ The rain had plastered her hair down.

plaster over [plaster sth<=>over] phr v

to cover a hole or an old surface by spreading plaster over it

▪ The original brickwork has been plastered over.