elasticity

American  

[ih-la-stis-i-tee, ee-la-stis-] / ɪ læˈstɪs ɪ ti, ˌi læˈstɪs- /

noun

1. the state or quality of being elastic.

2. flexibility; resilience; adaptability.

   a statement with a great elasticity of meaning.

3. ability to resist or overcome depression; buoyancy.

4. Physics. the property of a substance that enables it to change its length, volume, or shape in direct response to a force effecting such a change and to recover its original form upon the removal of the force.

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elasticity Scientific  

/ ĭ-lă-stĭs′ĭ-tē /

1. The ability of a solid to return to its original shape or form after being subject to strain. Most solid materials display elasticity, up to a load point called the elastic limit; loads higher than this limit cause permanent deformation of the material.

2. See also Hooke's law

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elasticity ¹ Cultural  

1. The property of a material that allows it to return to its original shape after having been deformed and to exert a force while deformed. (See stress.)

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elasticity ² Cultural  

1. A shift in either demand or supply of a good or service depending on its price. Demand is said to be elastic when it responds quickly to changes in prices, and inelastic when it responds sluggishly.

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Other Word Forms

• nonelasticity noun
• unelasticity noun

Etymology

Origin of elasticity

First recorded in 1655–65; elastic + -ity

Related Words

• adaptability
• flexibility
• resilience