plastic

plastic
I. adjective Etymology: Latin plasticus of molding, from Greek plastikos, from plassein to mold, form Date: 1632 1. formative, creative <
plastic forces in nature
> 2. a. capable of being molded or modeled <
plastic clay
> b. capable of adapting to varying conditions ; pliable <
ecologically plastic animals
> 3. sculptural 4. made or consisting of a plastic 5. capable of being deformed continuously and permanently in any direction without rupture 6. of, relating to, or involving plastic surgery 7. having a quality suggestive of mass-produced plastic goods; especially artificial 4 <
plastic smiles
> 8. relating to, characterized by, or exhibiting neural plasticity Synonyms: plastic, pliable, pliant, ductile, malleable, adaptable mean susceptible of being modified in form or nature. plastic applies to substances soft enough to be molded yet capable of hardening into the desired fixed form <
plastic materials allow the sculptor greater freedom
>. pliable suggests something easily bent, folded, twisted, or manipulated <
pliable rubber tubing
>. pliant may stress flexibility and sometimes connote springiness <
an athletic shoe with a pliant sole
>. ductile applies to what can be drawn out or extended with ease <
ductile metals such as copper
>. malleable applies to what may be pressed or beaten into shape <
the malleable properties of gold
>. adaptable implies the capability of being easily modified to suit other conditions, needs, or uses <
computer hardware that is adaptable
>. II. noun Date: 1905 1. a plastic substance; specifically any of numerous organic synthetic or processed materials that are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into objects, films, or filaments 2. credit cards used for payment — called also plastic money • plasticky adjective

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Plastic — is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular weight, and may contain other substances to… …   Wikipedia

  • PLASTIC — Explosif pâteux à base d’hexogène ou de pentrite, le plastic, ou explosif plastique, présente une consistance analogue à celle du mastic de vitrier, mais il ne durcit pas. Il est caractérisé par une brisance élevée et une bonne puissance. Il ne… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Plastic — Plas tic (pl[a^]s t[i^]k), a. [L. plasticus, Gr. ?, fr. ? to form, mold: cf. F. plastique.] 1. Having the power to give form or fashion to a mass of matter; as, the plastic hand of the Creator. Prior. [1913 Webster] See plastic Nature working to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • plastic — plastic, pliable, pliant, ductile, malleable, adaptable are applied to things and to persons regarded as material susceptible of being modified in form or nature. Something plastic has the quality (as of wax, clay, or plaster) of being soft… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • plastic — [plas′tik] adj. [L plasticus < Gr plastikos < plassein, to form, prob. < IE base * plā , flat, to smooth out > PLAIN1] 1. molding or shaping matter; formative 2. a) capable of being molded or shaped b) made of a plastic …   English World dictionary

  • plastic — plas‧tic [ˈplæstɪk] noun [uncountable] informal a credit card, or credit cards in general: • I m going to have to pay for this with plastic. * * * plastic UK US /ˈplæstɪk/ noun [U] ► INFORMAL MONEY …   Financial and business terms

  • plastic — (pl[a^]s t[i^]k), n. A substance composed predominantly of a synthetic organic high polymer capable of being cast or molded; many varieties of plastic are used to produce articles of commerce (after 1900). [MW10 gives origin of word as 1905]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • plastic — [adj1] flexible, soft; made of manufactured, treated compounds bending, ductile, elastic, fictile, formable, moldable, molded, pliable, pliant, resilient, shapeable, supple, workable; concept 604 Ant. hard, inflexible, stiff plastic [adj2] easily …   New thesaurus

  • plastic — ► NOUN 1) a synthetic material made from organic polymers, that can be moulded into shape while soft and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form. 2) informal credit cards or other plastic cards that can be used as money. ► ADJECTIVE 1)… …   English terms dictionary

  • -plastic — plas tic ( pl[a^]s t[i^]k). [Gr. ? fit for molding, plastic, fr. ? to mold, to form.] A combining form signifying developing, forming, growing; as, heteroplastic, monoplastic, polyplastic. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • -plastic — [plas′tik] [< Gr plastikos: see PLASTIC] combining form forming adjectives 1. forming, developing [homoplastic] 2. of or relating to (a given noun ending in PLASM, PLAST, or PLASTY) [rhinoplastic] …   English World dictionary

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