Plaster: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is most commonly used in British English to refer to adhesive strips used to cover small cuts or blisters.

• I cut my finger, so I put a plaster on it to stop the bleeding.

A bandage is a piece of material used to support an injured part of the body, to hold a dressing in place, or to apply pressure. It's often used for larger wounds or injuries.

• The nurse wrapped a bandage around his sprained ankle.

A dressing is a sterile pad or compress applied to a wound to promote healing and protect the wound from further harm. It is used for serious wounds to control bleeding and prevent infection.

• The doctor changed the dressing on the patient's burn wound.

A patch is a piece of material used to cover something, often used in the context of medications (like nicotine patches) or to protect a larger area of skin.

• He applied a nicotine patch to help with quitting smoking.

Used in construction and medical contexts. In construction, it's a paste made with gypsum, lime, or cement used for coating walls and ceilings. In medicine, it's a bandage or dressing.

• The workers applied a fresh layer of plaster to the damaged wall.
• After the injury, the doctor put a plaster on his wound.

Refers to a type of plaster used for coating walls and ceilings, often for decorative purposes. Frequently used in architectural designs and renovations.

• The elegant house featured beautiful stucco walls.
• They chose a stucco finish to achieve a Mediterranean look for their home.

Specific to construction, it means to apply a first coat of plaster or cement to a wall. It's often used in more technical or professional settings.

• They decided to render the exterior walls to improve insulation.
• The render on the old building was starting to crack.

Often refers to wet earth or soil. In some construction contexts, it can mean a mixture of water and earth or another substance used for building or finishing surfaces.

• The children played in the mud after the rain.
• The construction workers used mud to create a smooth finish on the surface.

May also refer to affixing something heavily or with excessive amounts, often with a slightly negative or humorous connotation.

• He plastered his room with posters of his favorite band
• She plastered make-up on her face before the show

A general term used when you are referring to putting something over the top of another thing to protect, hide, or enclose it.

• They will cover the car with a tarp to protect it from the rain
• She used a blanket to cover herself on the cold night

Commonly used when you are talking about covering something with a thin layer of a material or substance.

• The chef will coat the chicken with breadcrumbs before frying it
• The artist will coat the sculpture with varnish

Suitable for talking about spreading something on a surface, such as lotion, paint, or other substances.

• She will apply sunscreen before going to the beach
• The painter will apply a second coat of paint to the wall