ELASTIC

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does elastic mean? 

• ELASTIC (noun)
  The noun ELASTIC has 2 senses:

1. a narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together

2. a fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material

  Familiarity information: ELASTIC used as a noun is rare.

• ELASTIC (adjective)
  The adjective ELASTIC has 2 senses:

1. capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy

2. able to adjust readily to different conditions

  Familiarity information: ELASTIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ELASTIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

elastic; elastic band; rubber band

Hypernyms ("elastic" is a kind of...):

band (a thin flat strip of flexible material that is worn around the body or one of the limbs (especially to decorate the body))

elastic device (any flexible device that will return to its original shape when stretched)

Derivation:

elastic (capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("elastic" is a kind of...):

cloth; fabric; material; textile (artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers)

Derivation:

elastic (capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy)

• ELASTIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy

Context example:

a youthful and elastic walk

Similar:

bouncy; live; lively; resilient; springy (elastic; rebounds readily)

chewy ((of a consistency) requiring chewing)

elasticised; elasticized (made with strands or inserts of elastic)

expandable; expandible; expansible; expansile ((of gases) capable of expansion)

fictile; moldable; plastic (capable of being molded or modeled (especially of earth or clay or other soft material))

flexible; whippy (bending and snapping back readily without breaking)

rubberlike; rubbery (having an elastic texture resembling rubber in flexibility or toughness)

springlike (resembling a spring or the action of a spring)

stretch (easily stretched)

stretchable; stretchy (capable of being easily stretched and resuming former size or shape)

viscoelastic (having viscous as well as elastic properties)

Also:

flexible; flexile (able to flex; able to bend easily)

Antonym:

inelastic (not elastic)

Derivation:

elastic (a fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material)

elastic (a narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together)

elasticity (the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Able to adjust readily to different conditions

Synonyms:

elastic; flexible; pliable; pliant

Context example:

an elastic clause in a contract

Similar:

adaptable (capable of adapting (of becoming or being made suitable) to a particular situation or use)

 Context examples 

Destruction of elastic tissue is present.

(Granulomatous Slack Skin Disease, NCI Thesaurus)

A short elastic band that unites the epiglottis to the upper border of the hyoid bone.

(Hyoepiglottic Ligament, NCI Thesaurus)

A glycosylated elastic protein produced by the cleavage of fibrinogen by the protease thrombin during blood coagulation.

(Fibrin, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of elastic cartilage that is attached to the larynx creating a flap.

(Epiglottic Cartilage, NCI Thesaurus)

Her constitution is both sound and elastic;—better calculated to endure variations of climate than many more robust.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

An immunohistochemical technique to detect elastin, a polymeric protein found in the connective tissue that imparts the property of elasticity to vertebrate elastic tissue.

(Elastin Staining Method, NCI Thesaurus)

An index reflecting distensibility of elastic organ(s) defined as the change in volume per unit change in pressure (dV/dP).

(Index of Expandability, NCI Thesaurus)

It contains elastic vocal cords required for sound production.

(Larynx, NCI Thesaurus)

Phospholipids secreted by the great alveolar cells into alveoli and respiratory air passages which contributes to the elastic property of pulmonary tissue.

(Lung Surfactant, NIH CRISP Thesaurus)

He paced swiftly round several times, with little, elastic, menacing steps, whilst the smith pivoted slowly to correspond.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)