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elastic

American  
[ih-las-tik] / ɪˈlæs tɪk /

adjective

  1. capable of returning to its original length, shape, etc., after being stretched, deformed, compressed, or expanded.

    an elastic waistband; elastic fiber.

  2. spontaneously expansive, as gases.

  3. flexible; accommodating; adaptable; tolerant.

    elastic rules and regulations.
    Synonyms:
    pliant, resilient
    Antonyms:
    unyielding, intolerant, inflexible, rigid

  4. springing back or rebounding; springy.

    He walks with an elastic step.

  5. readily recovering from depression or exhaustion; buoyant.

    an elastic temperament.

  6. Economics. relatively responsive to change, as to a proportionate increase in demand as the result of a decrease in price.

  7. Physics. of, relating to, or noting a body having the property of elasticity.

noun

  1. webbing, or material in the form of a band, made elastic, as with strips of rubber.

  2. something made from this material, as a garter.

  3. rubber band.

elastic British  
/ ɪˈlæstɪk /

adjective

  1. (of a body or material) capable of returning to its original shape after compression, expansion, stretching, or other deformation

  2. capable of adapting to change

    an elastic schedule

  3. quick to recover from fatigue, dejection, etc; buoyant

  4. springy or resilient

    an elastic walk

  5. (of gases) capable of expanding spontaneously

  6. physics (of collisions) involving no overall change in translational kinetic energy

  7. made of elastic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. tape, cord, or fabric containing interwoven strands of flexible rubber or similar substance allowing it to stretch and return to its original shape

  2. something made of elastic, such as a rubber band or a garter

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • elastically adverb
  • nonelastic adjective
  • nonelastically adverb
  • semielastic adjective
  • semielastically adverb
  • superelastic adjective
  • superelastically adverb
  • unelastic adjective
  • unelastically adverb

Etymology

Origin of elastic

1645–55; < New Latin elasticus expanding spontaneously, equivalent to Greek elast ( ós ) (late variant of elatós ductile, beaten (of metal), derivative of elaúnein, elân beat out, forge) + -icus -ic

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.