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Glite Dictionary
oriental alabaster

oriental alabaster

9.9
A hard stone used for carving and decoration that looks slightly see-through
  • noun
  • /ˌɔːrɪˈɛntəl ˈæləbæstər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : alabastro oriental
  • The ancient vase was carved from oriental alabaster and glowed softly in the light.

Examples

  • The statue was carved from oriental alabaster.

  • The statue was made of oriental alabaster, giving it a unique, translucent quality.

  • Sculptors prized oriental alabaster for its smooth texture and natural beauty.

  • Many artists prefer oriental alabaster for its beauty.

  • The artist chose a piece of oriental alabaster for his latest sculpture due to its beautiful translucence.

  • She decorated her home with a stunning lamp made from oriental alabaster that casts a warm glow.

  • The ancient craftsmen skillfully carved intricate designs into the oriental alabaster to create exquisite vases.

Synonyms

alabaster
vsoriental alabaster
4 8.1

A smooth white rock used for carving statues and decorations

is a harder compact calcite variety often translucent and used for carved decoration

Surface Forms

oriental alabaster singular
oriental alabasters plural

Morphology

oriental + alabaster

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'oriental' (from the East) combined with 'alabaster' (a carving stone) yields a type or variety of alabaster associated with the East. This compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common and the overall meaning is directly derivable by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Oriental alabaster comes from two simple images: alabaster is a smooth, pale stone long used for carving statues and lamps, and oriental means 'from the East'. So, oriental alabaster refers to a pale, slightly 'see-through' stone from the East that artists used for decorative carving.