Plastic meaning

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

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

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.

Capable of being shaped or formed.

Relating to or dealing with shaping or modeling.

Having the qualities of sculpture; well-formed.

Giving form or shape to a substance.

Easily influenced; impressionable.

Made of a plastic or plastics.

Capable of undergoing continuous deformation without rupture or relaxation.

Marked by artificiality or superficiality.

Of or obtained by means of credit cards.

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.

A credit card or credit cards.

Forming; growing; changing; developing.

Molding or shaping matter; formative.

In a flexible or changing state; impressionable.

Dealing with molding or modeling, as in sculpture.

Of or designating a credit card or credit cards, or credit based on their use.

Capable of readily changing or adapting in form, physiology, or behavior.

Capable of continuous and permanent change of shape in any direction without breaking apart.

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.

A credit card or credit cards, or credit based on their use.

Forming, developing.

Capable of being shaped or formed.

Any of numerous substances that can be shaped and molded when subjected to heat or pressure. Plastics are easily shaped because they consist of long-chain molecules known as polymers, which do not break apart when flexed. Plastics are usually artificial resins but can also be natural substances, as in certain cellular derivatives and shellac. Plastics can be pressed into thin layers, formed into objects, or drawn into fibers for use in textiles. Most do not conduct electricity well, are low in density, and are often very tough. Polyvinyl chloride, methyl methacrylate, and polystyrene are plastics.

Capable of being molded or formed into a shape.

(archaic) Any solid but malleable substance.

Any similar synthetic material, not necessarily thermoplastic.

(biology) Capable of adapting to varying conditions; characterized by environmental adaptability. [from 19th c.]

Of or pertaining to the inelastic, non-brittle, deformation of a material. [from 19th c.]

Made of plastic. [from 20th c.]