rhizoverbBeta
DictionarygypsumSoft mineral
noun

gypsum

JIP-sum/ˈdʒɪpsəm/

a soft calcium sulfate mineral used to make plaster

The gypsum specimen lies beside plaster and wallboard made from the mineral.

A large natural gypsum specimen with translucent tabular crystals and pearly cleavage faces, beside a small stack of cut drywall showing its white mineral core and a shallow dish of plaster powder.
Etymology
gypsumGreekchalk

Greek gypsos meant “chalk”; the English word names the mineral used to make plaster. The Greek term is perhaps of Semitic origin, with comparable Arabic and Hebrew words meaning “plaster.”

In context

The Factoran1:35
the first step in making a gypsum board is extracting gypsum from massive mountain ranges where this mineral lies deep underground
How Drywall Is Made From Gypsum In Massive Production Lines | 34 Billion Square Feet Every Year

More examples

  • A pale gypsum crystal rested in the display case.
  • The factory processed gypsum into plaster.
  • The mineral sample was identified as gypsum.

Forms

gypsum

Similar words

plaster
Plaster is a manufactured building material often made from gypsum; gypsum is the mineral source.
calcite
Calcite is calcium carbonate; gypsum is a calcium sulfate mineral.