Plastic

Plastic
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 his end. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

2. Capable of being molded, formed, or modeled, as clay or plaster; -- used also figuratively; as, the plastic mind of a child. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Medallions . . . fraught with the plastic beauty and grace of the palmy days of Italian art. --J. S. Harford. [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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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 — 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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