Marble vs. Alabaster

Marble vs. Alabaster — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Marble and Alabaster

Marblenoun

A rock of crystalline limestone.

Alabasternoun

A fine-grained white or lightly-tinted variety of gypsum, used ornamentally.

Marblenoun

A small spherical ball of rock, glass, ceramic or metal used in games and races.

Alabasternoun

(historical) A variety of calcite, translucent and sometimes banded.

Marblenoun

An artwork made from marble.

The Elgin Marbles were originally part of the temple of the Parthenon.

Alabasternoun

An off-white colour, like that of alabaster.

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Marbleverb

(transitive) To cause (something to have) the streaked or swirled appearance of certain types of marble, for example by mixing viscous ingredients incompletely, or by applying paint or other colorants unevenly.

Alabasteradjective

Made of alabaster

The crown is stored in an alabaster box with an onyx handle and a gold lock.

Marbleverb

(intransitive) To get or have the streaked or swirled appearance of certain types of marble, for example due to the incomplete mixing of viscous ingredients, or the uneven application of paint or other colorants.

Alabasteradjective

Resembling alabaster: white, pale, translucent.

An ominous alabaster fog settled in the valley.

Marbleverb

(transitive) To cause meat, usually beef, pork, or lamb, to be interlaced with fat so that its appearance resembles that of marble.

Alabasternoun

a compact fine-textured usually white gypsum used for carving

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Marbleverb

To become interlaced with fat; (of fat) to interlace through meat.

Alabasternoun

a hard compact kind of calcite

Marbleverb

To lace or be laced throughout.

Alabasternoun

a very light white

Marbleadjective

Made of, or resembling, marble.

a marble mantelmarble paper

Marbleadjective

(figurative) Cold; hard; unfeeling.

a marble heart

Marblenoun

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material

Marblenoun

a small ball of glass that is used in various games

Marblenoun

a sculpture carved from marble

Marbleverb

paint or stain like marble;

marble paper