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.

Primary Meanings of elastic

1.	adj	capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy
2.	n	a narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together
3.	n	a fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material

Full Definitions of elastic

adj 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

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...

adj 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

n a narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together

Synonyms:: elastic band, rubber band

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

n a fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material

Type of:: cloth, fabric, material, textile
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

Primary Meanings of elastic

adj capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy

adj able to adjust readily to different conditions

n a narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together

n a fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material

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