elastic

[ ih-las-tik ]
See synonyms for: elasticelastics on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. capable of returning to its original length, shape, etc., after being stretched, deformed, compressed, or expanded: an elastic waistband; elastic fiber.

  2. spontaneously expansive, as gases.

  1. flexible; accommodating; adaptable; tolerant: elastic rules and regulations.

  2. springing back or rebounding; springy: He walks with an elastic step.

  3. readily recovering from depression or exhaustion; buoyant: an elastic temperament.

  4. Economics. relatively responsive to change, as to a proportionate increase in demand as the result of a decrease in price.: Compare inelastic (def. 2).

  5. Physics. of, relating to, or noting a body having the property of elasticity.

noun
  1. webbing, or material in the form of a band, made elastic, as with strips of rubber.

  2. something made from this material, as a garter.

Origin of elastic

1
1645–55; <New Latin elasticus expanding spontaneously, equivalent to Greek elast(ós) (late variant of elatós ductile, beaten (of metal), derivative of elaúnein, elân beat out, forge) + -icus-ic

Other words for elastic

Opposites for elastic

Other words from elastic

  • e·las·ti·cal·ly, adverb
  • non·e·las·tic, adjective
  • non·e·las·ti·cal·ly, adverb
  • sem·i·e·las·tic, adjective
  • sem·i·e·las·ti·cal·ly, adverb
  • su·per·e·las·tic, adjective
  • su·per·e·las·ti·cal·ly, adverb
  • un·e·las·tic, adjective
  • un·e·las·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby elastic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use elastic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for elastic

elastic

/ (ɪˈlæstɪk) /


adjective
  1. (of a body or material) capable of returning to its original shape after compression, expansion, stretching, or other deformation

  2. capable of adapting to change: an elastic schedule

  1. quick to recover from fatigue, dejection, etc; buoyant

  2. springy or resilient: an elastic walk

  3. (of gases) capable of expanding spontaneously

  4. physics (of collisions) involving no overall change in translational kinetic energy

  5. made of elastic

noun
  1. tape, cord, or fabric containing interwoven strands of flexible rubber or similar substance allowing it to stretch and return to its original shape

  2. mainly US and Canadian something made of elastic, such as a rubber band or a garter

Origin of elastic

1
C17: from New Latin elasticus impulsive, from Greek elastikos, from elaunein to beat, drive

Derived forms of elastic

  • elastically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012