plastic

[ plas-tik ]

/ ˈplæs tɪk /

noun

Often plastics. any of a group of synthetic or natural organic materials that may be shaped when soft and then hardened, including many types of resins, resinoids, polymers, cellulose derivatives, casein materials, and proteins: used in place of other materials, as glass, wood, and metals, in construction and decoration, for making many articles, as coatings, and, drawn into filaments, for weaving. They are often known by trademark names, as Bakelite, Vinylite, or Lucite.

a credit card, or credit cards collectively, usually made of plastic: He had a whole pocketful of plastic.

money, payment, or credit represented by the use of a credit card or cards.

something, or a group of things, made of or resembling plastic: The entire meal was served on plastic.

adjective

made of plastic.

capable of being molded or of receiving form: clay and other plastic substances.

produced by molding: plastic figures.

having the power of molding or shaping formless or yielding material: the plastic forces of nature.

being able to create, especially within an art form; having the power to give form or formal expression: the plastic imagination of great poets and composers.

Fine Arts.

concerned with or pertaining to molding or modeling; sculptural.
relating to three-dimensional form or space, especially on a two-dimensional surface.
pertaining to the tools or techniques of drawing, painting, or sculpture: the plastic means.
characterized by an emphasis on formal structure: plastic requirements of a picture.

pliable; impressionable: the plastic mind of youth.

giving the impression of being made of or furnished with plastic: We stayed at one of those plastic motels.

artificial or insincere; synthetic; phony: jeans made of cotton, not some plastic substitute; a plastic smile.

lacking in depth, individuality, or permanence; superficial, dehumanized, or mass-produced: a plastic society interested only in material acquisition.

of or relating to the use of credit cards: plastic credit; plastic money.

Biology, Pathology. formative.

Surgery. concerned with or pertaining to the remedying or restoring of malformed, injured, or lost parts: a plastic operation.

Origin of plastic

1625–35; 1900–10 for def 1; < Latin plasticus that may be molded < Greek plastikós. See -plast, -ic

SYNONYMS FOR plastic

11 pliant, flexible, amenable.

OTHER WORDS FROM plastic

plas·ti·cal·ly, plas·tic·ly, adverb non·plas·tic, adjective, noun un·plas·tic, adjective

Words nearby plastic

plaster of paris, plasterboard, plastered, plastering, plasterwork, plastic, plastic art, plastic bomb, plastic bullet, plastic explosive, plastic flow

British Dictionary definitions for nonplastic

plastic

/ (ˈplæstɪk, ˈplɑːs-) /

noun

any one of a large number of synthetic usually organic materials that have a polymeric structure and can be moulded when soft and then set, esp such a material in a finished state containing plasticizer, stabilizer, filler, pigments, etc. Plastics are classified as thermosetting (such as Bakelite) or thermoplastic (such as PVC) and are used in the manufacture of many articles and in coatings, artificial fibres, etc Compare resin (def. 2)

short for plastic money

adjective

made of plastic

easily influenced; impressionable the plastic minds of children

capable of being moulded or formed

fine arts

of or relating to moulding or modellingthe plastic arts
produced or apparently produced by mouldingthe plastic draperies of Giotto's figures

having the power to form or influence the plastic forces of the imagination

biology of or relating to any formative process; able to change, develop, or grow plastic tissues

of or relating to plastic surgery

slang superficially attractive yet unoriginal or artificial plastic food

Derived forms of plastic

plastically, adverb

Word Origin for plastic

C17: from Latin plasticus relating to moulding, from Greek plastikos, from plassein to form

Medical definitions for nonplastic

plastic

[ plăs′tĭk ]

adj.

Capable of being shaped or formed.

Easily influenced; impressionable.

Capable of building tissue; formative.

n.

Any of various organic compounds produced by polymerization, capable of being molded, extruded, cast into various shapes and films, or drawn into filaments used as textile fibers.

Other words from plastic

plas•tic′i•ty (plăs-tĭs′ĭ-tē) n.

Scientific definitions for nonplastic

plastic

[ plăs′tĭk ]

Noun

Any of numerous substances that can be shaped and molded when subjected to heat or pressure. Plastics are easily shaped because they consist of long-chain molecules known as polymers, which do not break apart when flexed. Plastics are usually artificial resins but can also be natural substances, as in certain cellular derivatives and shellac. Plastics can be pressed into thin layers, formed into objects, or drawn into fibers for use in textiles. Most do not conduct electricity well, are low in density, and are often very tough. Polyvinyl chloride, methyl methacrylate, and polystyrene are plastics. See more at thermoplastic thermosetting.

Adjective

Capable of being molded or formed into a shape.

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plastic

noun

adjective

Origin of plastic

SYNONYMS FOR plastic

OTHER WORDS FROM plastic

Words nearby plastic

British Dictionary definitions for nonplastic

noun

adjective

Derived forms of plastic

Word Origin for plastic

Medical definitions for nonplastic

adj.

n.

Other words from plastic

Scientific definitions for nonplastic

Noun

Adjective

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

plastic

noun

adjective

Origin of plastic

SYNONYMS FOR plastic

OTHER WORDS FROM plastic

Words nearby plastic

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noun

adjective

Derived forms of plastic

Word Origin for plastic

Medical definitions for nonplastic

adj.

n.

Other words from plastic

Scientific definitions for nonplastic

Noun

Adjective

British Dictionary definitions for nonplastic