Definitions for: Plastic


[n] generic name for certain synthetic or semisynthetic materials that can be molded or extruded into objects or films or filaments or used for making e.g. coatings and adhesives
[adj] capable of being molded or modeled (especially of earth or clay or other soft material); "plastic substances such as wax or clay"
[adj] used of the imagination; "material...transformed by the plastic power of the imagination" (Coleridge)
[adj] capable of being influenced or formed; "the plastic minds of children"; "a pliant nature"



Webster (1913) Definition: -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.


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.

See plastic Nature working to his end. --Pope.

2. Capable of being molded, formed, or modeled, as clay or
plaster; -- used also figuratively; as, the plastic mind
of a child.

3. Pertaining or appropriate to, or characteristic of,
molding or modeling; produced by, or appearing as if
produced by, molding or modeling; -- said of sculpture and
the kindred arts, in distinction from painting and the
graphic arts.

Medallions . . . fraught with the plastic beauty and
grace of the palmy days of Italian art. --J. S.
Harford.



Plastic clay (Geol.), one of the beds of the Eocene period;
-- so called because used in making pottery. --Lyell.

Plastic element (Physiol.), one that bears within the germs
of a higher form.

Plastic exudation (Med.), an exudation thrown out upon a
wounded surface and constituting the material of repair by
which the process of healing is effected.

Plastic foods. (Physiol.) See the second Note under Food.


Plastic force. (Physiol.) See under Force.

Plastic operation, an operation in plastic surgery.

Plastic surgery, that branch of surgery which is concerned
with the repair or restoration of lost, injured, or
deformed parts of the body.

Synonyms: elastic, fictile, impressible, impressionable, integrative, moldable, pliant

See Also: ABS plastic, amino plastic, amino resin, aminoplast, Bakelite, cellulosic, coumarone resin, coumarone-indene resin, fluorocarbon plastic, Mylar, phenolic plastic, phenolic urea, polyester, polypropene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl-formaldehyde, resinoid, silicone resin, solid, Teflon, thermoplastic, thermoplastic resin, thermosetting compositions, thermosetting resin, vinyl, Vinylite

Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
animals starting with p
animlas that start with w
animals starting with j