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plastic Definition

plas·tic (plas′tik)

adjective

  1. molding or shaping matter; formative
    1. capable of being molded or shaped
    2. made of a plastic
  3. in a flexible or changing state; impressionable
  4. dealing with molding or modeling, as in sculpture
  5. ☆
    1. characterized by or exhibiting superficiality or a lack of originality; dehumanized; mass-produced the plastic world of television advertising
    2. hypocritically false or synthetic; phony a plastic smile
  6. ☆ Informal of or designating a credit card or credit cards, or credit based on their use plastic money
  7. Biol. capable of readily changing or adapting in form, physiology, or behavior
  8. Med.
    1. of or helpful in the renewal of destroyed or injured tissue
    2. that can be so renewed
  9. Physics capable of continuous and permanent change of shape in any direction without breaking apart

Etymology: L plasticus < Gr plastikos < plassein, to form, prob. < IE base *plā-, flat, to smooth out > plain

noun

  1. any of various nonmetallic compounds, synthetically produced, usually from organic compounds by polymerization, which can be molded into various forms and hardened, or formed into pliable sheets or films, fibers, flexible or hard foams, etc. for commercial use
  2. something made of plastic
  3. Informal a credit card or credit cards, or credit based on their use

plastic Related Forms
plas′·ti·cally adverb plas·tic′·ity (-tis′ə tē) noun
plastic Synonyms

plastic

modif.

  1. Pliant

    pliable, supple, impressionable; see flexible 1, pliable 1.

  2. Made from plastics

    substitute, synthetic, ersatz (German), molded, cast, cellulose; see also chemical. See syn. study at pliable.

plastic Synonyms

plastic

n.

  1. synthetic, synthetic compound, substitute, plastic material, processed material, polymerized substance.

    Common plastics include: thermoplastic, epoxy, furane, latex, synthetic rubber, butadiene, diolefin, chloroprene, polysulfide, polyethylene, nylon, acetate, acrylic, polyester, polystyrene, PS, polypropylene, PP, polyurethane, ABS, acrylonitrile butodiene styrene, PETE, polyethylene terephthalate, HDPE, LDPE, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, cellophane, vinylidene chloride, phenolic, phenolformaldehyde, phenolfurfura, ethyl cellulose, urea, cellulose nitrate, acrylic, methyl methacrylate, styrene, vinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride, PVC, melamine, copolymer vinyl, polyvinyl butyral, lignocellulose, artificial shellac.

  2. The following are trademarked plastics: Perbunan, Buna N, Chemigum, Buna S, Methyl Rubber, SKA, SKB, Sovprene, Neoprene, Thiokil, Aralac, Velon, Saran, Orlon, Bakelite, Durez, Phenolite, Textolite, Lumarith, Ethocel, Celluloid, Nitron, Lucite, Plexiglas, Styron, Lustron, Vinylite, Zinlac, Fortisan, Formica, Mylar, Teflon, Styrofoam, Lexan, Delrin, Perspex.

plastic Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • recycle: Plastic recycling Many plastics can be recycled at some of the boro's bring banks.
  • corrugate: Made of bright corrugated plastic, it holds A4 paper and is very cheap.
  • toughen: The light cover is constructed from toughened plastic so as not to break easily.
  • mold: But children do not benefit from strangers speaking from the depths of a posting box or a molded plastic ' early learning table ' .
  • reinforce: Fiber reinforced plastic with fire retardant resins can also be used, provided it is at least 5mm thick.
  • melt: This will melt the plastic around the hole and seal it.

Adjective modifier

  • recycled: The scheme uses minimal packaging; disposal sacks are made from recycled plastic.
  • biodegradable: You may purchase, at cost price, biodegradable plastic ' Doggy Bags ' from the public offices of the Council.
  • durable: Made from Durable plastic with 5mm thick walls they offer more excitement than straight slides due to the wave in the middle.
  • translucent: These tiny building blocks are made of colorful translucent plastic and slot together to create amazing shapes, sculptures and detailed images... .
  • rigid: These include oesophageal stents - either rigid plastic or self-expanding metallic stents ( SEMS ) and local tumor ablative techniques such as laser therapy.
  • sturdy: Koi Bowls Constructed from high quality, sturdy plastic, with no sharp edges.

Modifies a noun

  • bag: We return the plastic bags to the grocery store for them to recycle.
  • bottle: It's like using your lungs to draw the air out of a plastic milk bottle.
  • sheeting: Now farmers buy plastic sheeting, often from the company, in order to build small reservoirs filled with dilute pesticides.
  • container: They were inside rigid white plastic containers about the size of two oil drums.
  • surgery: There is also a dedicated plastic surgery operating theater.
  • surgeon: It also provides links to plastic surgeons across America, with access to their patient photo galleries.

Noun used with modifier

  • sticky-back: Once printed in sheets of nine I covered both sides of each sheet with sticky-back plastic, making sure there were no bubbles.
  • hemp: As well as using hemp fuel for his Model T, Henry Ford used hemp plastics to build the body work.
plastic Quotes

New York is one of the capitals of the world and Los Angeles is a constellation of plastic. San Francisco is a lady, Boston has become Urban Renewal, Philadelphia and Baltimore and Washington blink like dull diamonds in the smog of Eastern Megalopolis, and New Orleans is unremarkable past the French Quarter. Detroit is a one- trade town, Pittsburgh has lost its golden triangle. St Louis has become the golden arch of the corporation, and nights in Kansas City close early. The oil depletion allowance makes Houston and Dallas naught but checkerboards for this sort of game. But Chicago is a great American city. Perhaps it is the last of the great American cities.

—Mailer, Norman Kingsley

All pictorial or plastic art is useless; art should be a monster which casts servile minds into terror.

—Tzara,Tristan pseudonym of Samy Rosenstock

If there's a plastic surgeon who claims to be responsible for this face, then New York State will decertify him immediately.

—Cuomo, Mario Matthew