plastic

plastic
n. & adj.
—n.
1 any of a number of synthetic polymeric substances that can be given any required shape.
2 (attrib.) made of plastic (plastic bag).
—adj.
1 capable of being moulded; pliant; supple.
2 moulding or giving form to clay, wax, etc.
3 Biol. exhibiting an adaptability to environmental changes.
4 (esp. in philosophy) formative, creative.
Phrases and idioms:
plastic arts art forms involving modelling or moulding, e.g. sculpture and ceramics, or art involving the representation of solid objects with three-dimensional effects. plastic bomb a bomb containing plastic explosive. plastic explosive a putty-like explosive capable of being moulded by hand. plastic surgeon a qualified practitioner of plastic surgery. plastic surgery the process of reconstructing or repairing parts of the body by the transfer of tissue, either in the treatment of injury or for cosmetic reasons.
Derivatives:
plastically adv. plasticity n. plasticize v.tr. (also -ise). plasticization n. plasticizer n. plasticky adj.
Etymology: F plastique or L plasticus f. Gk plastikos f. plasso mould

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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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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