plaster
B1Neutral to informal (depending on usage); technical in construction/medical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A soft mixture of lime, sand, and water that hardens when dry, used for coating walls and ceilings; also, a strip of material spread with a medicated substance for application to a wound.
To cover a surface thickly or liberally with something; to apply a plaster cast (medical); to defeat decisively (informal, British).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core construction material sense and the medical dressing sense are distinct but related by the concept of a soft substance applied to a surface. The verb sense often implies a careless, thick, or excessive application.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English uses 'plaster' for 'band-aid' (sticking plaster). The informal verb phrase 'plastered' meaning 'very drunk' is more common in UK English. In US English, 'plaster' alone is less common for an adhesive bandage; 'band-aid' is generic. The decisive defeat sense ('they got plastered') is primarily UK.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with DIY and building work; 'plaster' evokes walls and home renovation. US: More likely associated with art (plaster cast sculptures) or medical casts.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English due to the common 'sticking plaster' term. The material sense is equally frequent in both dialects in relevant contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
plaster [surface] with [substance]plaster [substance] on [surface][surface] is plastered in/with [substance]have a leg in plasterVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “plaster a smile on one's face”
- “plastered to the wall”
- “have one's leg in plaster”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in construction/renovation industries ('plastering services').
Academic
Used in architecture, art history, and medical texts.
Everyday
Common in home repair and minor injury contexts.
Technical
Specific in building trades (mixes, application techniques) and orthopedics (cast types).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The kids managed to plaster the entire kitchen wall with mud.
- After the scandal, his face was plastered all over the tabloids.
- They got absolutely plastered at the pub last night.
American English
- He plastered his hair down with too much gel.
- The city was plastered with campaign posters during the election.
- The team got plastered in the finals, losing by thirty points.
adverb
British English
- Not typically used as a primary adverb. Phrasal: 'His hair was plastered down.'
American English
- Not typically used as a primary adverb.
adjective
British English
- We discovered the original plaster mouldings behind the false ceiling.
- He's walking awkwardly with a plaster leg.
American English
- The plaster statue was chipped and dusty.
- The old house had beautiful plaster walls.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I put a plaster on my finger.
- The wall is made of plaster.
- We need to repair the plaster on the ceiling where it's cracked.
- His arm is in a plaster cast for six weeks.
- The government tried to plaster over the fundamental problems with quick financial fixes.
- Her face was plastered with thick makeup for the stage.
- The investigative report plastered the corporation's unethical practices across the front page, leading to a public outcry.
- The baroque interior was adorned with intricate plasterwork.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PLASTERing a wall with PLASTER or putting a PLASTER on a disaster (a cut).
Conceptual Metaphor
COVERING IS HIDING/PROTECTING ('plaster over the cracks', 'plastered in makeup'); APPLYING THICKLY IS CARELESS ('they plastered paint everywhere').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with Russian 'пластир' (a medical patch, often nicotine or pain relief). The Russian construction term is 'штукатурка'.
- Confusing 'in plaster' (in a cast) with being covered in the material.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'plaster' for 'bandage' in US English may cause confusion. *'I need a plaster for my cut' (UK) vs. 'I need a band-aid' (US).
- Incorrect verb pattern: *'He plastered the poster on the wall' (less natural) vs. 'He plastered the wall with posters.'
Practice
Quiz
In British English, what is a common term for a small adhesive bandage?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is uncountable for the building material ('We need more plaster'). It is countable for the medical dressing ('I used three plasters').
A 'plaster' (UK)/'band-aid' (US) is a small, adhesive dressing for minor cuts. A 'bandage' is a more general term for a strip of cloth used to bind a wound or injured limb.
Informally (especially UK), 'plastered' means very drunk. It can also mean covered thickly with something ('The wall was plastered with posters').
Yes, it means to apply a thick or smooth layer of something, often carelessly or liberally ('to plaster a wall', 'to plaster makeup on').