elastic

Elastic is the rubber-based material that resumes its original shape after stretching or compression, and anything described as elastic is flexible.

In 1923 American inventor William H Spencer took elastic one step further, creating the elastic band — the Internet of its day for bored office workers seeking amusement. The properties of elastic have long lent themselves to metaphorical use, so that anything or anyone that's capable of adaptation or is flexible in its nature can be termed elastic.

Definitions of elastic
  1. adjective
    capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy
    “an elastic band”
    “a youthful and elastic walk”
    Synonyms:
    bouncy, live, lively, resilient, springy
    elastic; rebounds readily
    chewy
    (of a consistency) requiring chewing
    elasticised, elasticized
    made with strands or inserts of elastic
    expandable, expandible, expansible, expansile
    (of gases) capable of expansion
    fictile, moldable, plastic
    capable of being molded or modeled (especially of earth or clay or other soft material)
    flexible, whippy
    bending and snapping back readily without breaking
    rubberlike, rubbery
    having an elastic texture resembling rubber in flexibility or toughness
    springlike
    resembling a spring or the action of a spring
    stretch
    easily stretched
    stretchable, stretchy
    capable of being easily stretched and resuming former size or shape
    viscoelastic
    having viscous as well as elastic properties
    flexible, flexile
    able to flex; able to bend easily
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    inelastic
    not elastic
    dead
    lacking resilience or bounce
    nonresilient
    not resilient
    springless
    lacking in elasticity or vitality
    inflexible
    resistant to being bent
    show more antonyms...
  2. adjective
    able to adjust readily to different conditions
    “an elastic clause in a contract”
    synonyms: flexible, pliable, pliant
    adaptable
    capable of adapting (of becoming or being made suitable) to a particular situation or use
  3. noun
    a narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together
    synonyms: elastic band, rubber band
    see moresee less
    type of:
    band
    a thin flat strip of flexible material that is worn around the body or one of the limbs (especially to decorate the body)
    elastic device
    any flexible device that will return to its original shape when stretched
  4. noun
    a fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material
    see moresee less
    type of:
    cloth, fabric, material, textile
    artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
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