plastic

The definition of plastic is able to be shaped, or made of man made polymers.

(adjective)

Plastic is an organic compound produced from man made polymers, or slang for a credit card.

Facts About Plastic

The first plastic was invented in 1855 by Alexander Parkes who invented an imitation ivory out of cellulose that he deemed Parkesine. This material, the first cellulose-based plastic would later be known as celluloid.
In 1909 synthetic plastics made from chemicals such as formaldehyde and phenol were invented by the Belgian-American inventor Leo Baekeland. They eventually became known as Bakelite. It was much less flammable than cellulose, more durable, and easier to produce.
PVC, often used to make pipes, was first plasticized in the mid-1920s and became a popular replacement for other plastics. It can be made thin and extremely pliable, for use in products such as shrink wrap.
Styrofoam was invented in the early 1940s.

(noun)

See plastic in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

molding or shaping matter; formative
1. capable of being molded or shaped
2. made of a plastic
in a flexible or changing state; impressionable
dealing with molding or modeling, as in sculpture
☆
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
☆ Informal of or designating a credit card or credit cards, or credit based on their use: plastic money
Biol. capable of readily changing or adapting in form, physiology, or behavior
Med.
1. of or helpful in the renewal of destroyed or injured tissue
2. that can be so renewed
Physics capable of continuous and permanent change of shape in any direction without breaking apart

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

noun

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
something made of plastic
Informal a credit card or credit cards, or credit based on their use

Related Forms:

forming, developing: homoplastic
of or relating to (a given noun ending in -plasm, -plast, or -plasty): rhinoplastic

Origin: < Gr plastikos: see plastic

See plastic in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Capable of being shaped or formed: plastic material such as clay. See Synonyms at malleable.
Relating to or dealing with shaping or modeling: the plastic art of sculpture.
Having the qualities of sculpture; well-formed: “the astonishing plastic beauty of the chorus girls” (Frank Harris).
Giving form or shape to a substance: the plastic forces that create and wear down a mountain range.
Easily influenced; impressionable.
Made of a plastic or plastics: a plastic garden hose.
Physics Capable of undergoing continuous deformation without rupture or relaxation.
Biology Capable of building tissue; formative.
Marked by artificiality or superficiality; synthetic: a plastic world of fad, hype, and sensation.
Informal Of or obtained by means of credit cards: plastic money.

noun

Any of various organic compounds produced by polymerization, capable of being molded, extruded, cast into various shapes and films, or drawn into filaments used as textile fibers.
Objects made of plastic.
Informal A credit card or credit cards: would accept cash or plastic in payment.

Origin:

Origin: Latin plasticus

Origin: , from Greek plastikos

Origin: , from plastos, molded

Origin: , from plassein, to mold; see pelə-² in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: