le plâtre

The French word "plâtre" primarily means "plaster" in English. It has a couple of main uses and related meanings:

1. Material:

   • "Plâtre" is a white powdery substance (calcium sulfate hemihydrate) that becomes a paste when mixed with water, then hardens upon drying. It is commonly used in construction and art for making molds, casts, or finishing walls (plastering walls).
     Example: Les murs ont été recouverts de plâtre. (The walls were covered with plaster.)

2. Medical cast:

   • In a medical context, "plâtre" refers to the plaster cast used to immobilize a broken bone or injury.
     Example: Il a un plâtre au bras parce qu'il s'est cassé le bras. (He has a cast on his arm because he broke his arm.)

Synonyms and distinctions:

• Enduit: This means a coating or plaster layer, often used in construction for smoothing walls; it can include other materials beyond traditional plaster. More general or technical in construction.

• Béton: Concrete, which is a different material (stronger and used for structural purposes), not the same as plaster.

• Crème de plâtre: Sometimes used informally or in crafts to describe ready-mixed plaster cream or paste.

When talking about a cast for a broken limb, alternatives in medical context might be:

• Immobilisation or attelle (splint), which differ as means of support but are not made of plaster necessarily.

In summary, "plâtre" is mainly the material plaster in construction/art or a plaster cast for medical use.