Definition

A type of board made from materials like gypsum or wood pulp, used to cover walls and ceilings in buildings.

Example

The contractor installed wallboard in the new office to create smooth surfaces for painting.

Conversation

Have you ever worked with wallboard before?

Yeah, I helped my dad remodel the basement last summer.

That sounds fun! Was it hard to install the wallboard?

Not really, but it was tricky to make sure everything was straight.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Wallboard is formed from "wall" (from Old English *weall*, meaning a structure that encloses or divides) and "board" (from Old English *bord*, meaning a flat piece of material). The word "wallboard" refers to a flat material used to construct or cover walls.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'wall' as a structure that encloses and a 'board' as a flat piece of material — together, they create wallboard, which is used to build or cover walls.

Visually Confused Words