ductile
[ duhk-tl, -til ]
/ ˈdʌk tl, -tɪl /
adjective
capable of being hammered out thin, as certain metals; malleable.
capable of being drawn out into wire or threads, as gold.
able to undergo change of form without breaking.
capable of being molded or shaped; plastic.
Words nearby ductile
ducrey's bacillus, duct, duct keel, duct tape, ductal carcinoma in situ, ductile, ducting, duction, ductless, ductless gland, ductor
Origin of ductile
1300–50; Middle English < Latin ductilis, equivalent to duct(us) (past participle of dūcere to draw along) + -ilis -ile
OTHER WORDS FROM ductile
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for ductile
British Dictionary definitions for ductile
ductile
/ (ˈdʌktaɪl) /
adjective
(of a metal, such as gold or copper) able to be drawn out into wire
able to be moulded; pliant; plastic
easily led or influenced; tractable
Derived forms of ductile
ductilely, adverbductility (dʌkˈtɪlɪtɪ) or ductileness, nounWord Origin for ductile
C14: from Old French, from Latin ductilis, from dūcere to lead
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medicine definitions for ductile
ductile
[ dŭk′təl, -tīl′ ]
adj.
Easily molded or shaped.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for ductile
ductile
[ dŭk′təl ]
Easily stretched without breaking or lowering in material strength. Gold is relatively ductile at room temperature, and most metals become more ductile with increasing temperature. Compare brittle malleable.
Relating to rock or other materials that are capable of withstanding a certain amount of force by changing form before fracturing or breaking.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.