■ noun
1》 a synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers such as polyethylene, PVC, nylon, etc., which can be moulded into shape while soft and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form.
2》 informal credit cards or other ~ cards that can be used as money.
■ adjective
1》 made of ~.
↘artificial; unnatural: long-distance flights with their ~ food.
2》 easily shaped or moulded.
↘(in science and technology) relating to the permanent deformation of a solid without fracture by the temporary application of force.
3》 (in art) relating to moulding or modelling in three dimensions, or to produce three-dimensional effects.
4》 Biology exhibiting adaptability to change in the environment.
Derivatives
~ally adverb
~ity pla'stɪsɪti noun
Origin
C17: from Fr. plastique or L. ~us , from Gk plastikos , from plassein 'to mould'.