I. ˈplastik, -laas-, -lais-, -tēk adjective
Etymology: Latin plasticus, from Greek plastikos, from plastos formed, molded (verbal of plassein to form, mold) + -ikos -ic — more at plaster
1.
a. : giving form : having power to form or create : creative , formative
the poor plastic power, such as it is, within me set to work — Charles Lamb
in these plastic moments, everything is possible — Béla Menczer
b. : giving or able to give material or sensible form to conceptions of color, shape, tone, or movement arising from the subconscious
plastic sensibility — Herbert Read
2.
a. : capable of being modeled or shaped : susceptible of modification or change
plastic clay
the plastic quality of concrete before it hardens
b. : easily changed or modified : pliant , impressionable
strongest impressions are registered on the plastic and emerging personality — Diseases of the Nervous System
plastic affections of children — H.G.Wells
c. : characterized by mobility, pliancy, and flow or the simulation of these qualities
plastic dances
plastic and impressionistic style of modeling — Encyc. Americana
peasant woman of superb and plastic proportions — Hervey Allen
has the plastic face and the genuine warmth of personality which should make him a television natural — D.F.Schoenbrun
3.
a.
(1) : relating to, composed of, or producing three-dimensional forms or movement ; especially : showing or producing a forceful effect of three-dimensional, cohesive form : sculptural
plastic aim in stonework — J.J.Sweeney
(2) : having or producing the illusion of sculpture or relief
a plastic figure in painting
of the several plastic means, he used color most sparingly — Sheldon Cheney
(3) : of, relating to, or employing plastique
the plastic form and architectural construction of postwar ballets — Leonide Zarine
b. : characterized by concern with or emphasis upon form, solidity, and space as depicted especially by means of lines, colors, or planes and especially as differentiated from concern for illustrative content or decorative detail
used color not only for decorative but for plastic purposes — David Sylvester
plastic isolation of the objects against a uniform ground — J.T.Soby & A.H.Barr b. 1902
plastic light brings out the three-dimensional qualities of set, scenery, or talent — Herbert True
c. : having or producing coherency, harmony, and vitality of form : organic
revolutionary sense of the plastic whole — F.L.Wright
4.
a. : capable of being deformed continuously and permanently in any direction without rupture under a stress exceeding the yield value
the plastic yielding of rocks — C.M.Nevin
slow movement of the plastic ice — V.C.Finch & G.T.Trewartha
— distinguished from elastic
b. : of, relating to, or produced by plastic flow
existence of a limiting stress below which no plastic strain occurs — R.S.T.Kingston & L.D.Armstrong
5. biology
a. : capable of variation and phylogenetic change : adaptable
a plastic genus
a plastic species
b. : capable of growth, repair, or differentiation
a plastic tissue
6. : of, relating to, involving, or by means of plastic surgery
plastic repair
7. : of or relating to plastics : made of a plastic
plastic dishes
plastic ropes
plastic manufacturing
Synonyms:
pliable , pliant , ductile , malleable , adaptable : plastic may describe substances soft enough to mold and often liable to subsequent hardening and becoming fixed
a plastic tar
toys made of plastic substances
when children are small we elders in charge are apt to suppose them altogether plastic — H.G.Wells
pliable suggests something easily bent, twisted, or manipulated
pliable willow twigs
I've always been a pliable sort of person, and I let the ladies guide me — Upton Sinclair
a sturdier quality, which made her less pliable to the influence of other minds — Nathaniel Hawthorne
pliant may stress flexibility to a slightly greater degree than pliable but sometimes lacks the suggestions of submissiveness of the latter word
a pliant rod
in all these countries the Norse nature, supple and pliant, accepted the gifts of new experience, and in return imparted strength of purpose to peoples with whom the Norsemen mingled in marriage as well as war — H.O.Taylor
ductile describes what can be drawn out
ductile copper wire
or easily led or induced to flow
a ductile liquid
In ref. to persons it indicates complaisance or responsiveness to formative influences
he is a big dimpled child with cream and rose complexion, self-willed yet ductile . He can be managed, if his petulance is understood — Francis Hackett
malleable refers to what may be beaten into shape
thin gold leaf is very malleable
In ref. to persons it may indicate plasticity and may but does not necessarily suggest weakness and lack of independent will
children, malleable as yet, innocent and unformed. He may impress their minds most dangerously — Elinor Wylie
long enough for the Communist overseers to spot the more malleable individuals and concentrate on converting them into tools — Gladwin Hill
adaptable , generally complimentary, applies to a thing, condition, or person that modifies readily to adjust to circumstances
an adaptable appliance
have proved themselves an uncommonly adaptable people — American Guide Series: Arizona
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin plasticus, n., from Latin plasticus, adjective, plastic
1. archaic : molder , sculptor
2.
[Middle French plastique, from plastique, adjective, plastic, from Latin plasticus ]
a. : the art of modeling or sculpturing figures — often used in plural but sing. or plural in constr.
b. : plastique
3.
a.
(1) : a substance that at some stage in its manufacture or processing can be shaped by flow (as by application of heat or pressure) with or without fillers, plasticizers, reinforcing agents, or other compounding ingredients and that can retain the new solid often rigid shape under conditions of use
(2) : any of a large group of materials of high molecular weight that usually contain as the essential ingredient a synthetic or semisynthetic organic substance made by polymerization or condensation (as polystyrene or a phenol-formaldehyde resin) or derived from a natural material by chemical treatment (as nitrocellulose from cellulose), that are molded, cast, extruded, drawn, or laminated under various conditions (as by heat in the case of thermoplastic materials, by chemical condensation in the case of thermosetting materials or polyesters, or by casting during polymerization of monomers) into objects of all sizes and shapes including films and filaments — often used in plural but sing. in constr.; compare elastomer , resin 2, rubber 2a, synthetic rubber
b. : an article fabricated from a plastic
4. plastics plural but singular or plural in construction : plastic surgery
III. adjective
: having a quality suggestive of objects mass-produced in plastic ; especially : lacking in vitality, originality, or sincerity
plastic smiles
a plastic marriage
vilified our skyway-filled downtowns, calling them lifeless and plastic — Brian Lowey
IV. noun
: credit cards used for payment
the bill was £17.00, the banks were closed, and they don't take plastic — David Coombs