elastic

English

Alternative forms

• elastick (obsolete)

Etymology

From New Latin elasticus (“elastic”), from Ancient Greek as if * ἐλαστής (elastēs) for ἐλατής (elatēs), equiv. to ἐλατήρ (elatēr, “a driver, hurler”), from ἐλαύνειν (elaunein, “to drive, set in motion, push, strike, beat out”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /iˈlæs.tɪk/, /əˈlæstɪk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æstɪk

Adjective

elastic (comparative more elastic, superlative most elastic)

1. Capable of stretching; particularly, capable of stretching so as to return to an original shape or size when force is released.

   The rope is somewhat elastic, so expect it to give when you pull on it.

2. Made of elastic.

   elastic band

3. Of clothing, elasticated.
4. (economics) Sensitive to changes in price.

   Demand for entertainment is more elastic than demand for energy.

5. springy; bouncy; vivacious
   • 1900, Charles W. Chesnutt, The House Behind the Cedars, Chapter I,

     He could see that she was tastefully, though not richly, dressed, and that she walked with an elastic step that revealed a light heart and the vigor of perfect health. Her face, of course, he could not analyze, since he had caught only the one brief but convincing glimpse of it.

Synonyms

• stretchy
• stretchable

Related terms

• elasticated
• elasticated

• elastic band
• inelastic
• elasticity

Translations

capable of stretching

• Bulgarian: еластичен (bg) (elastičen)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 彈性的 (cmn), 弹性的 (cmn) (tánxìng de), 有彈力的 (cmn), 有弹力的 (cmn) (yǒu tánlì de)

• Czech: pružný (cs) m
• Finnish: joustava (fi)
• French: élastique (fr) m and f
• German: dehnbar (de), elastisch (de)
• Irish: leaisteach (ga)
• Italian: elastico (it) m, elastica (it) f

• Japanese: エラスティック (ja) (erasutikku)
• Jèrriais: êlastique
• Manx: so-lhoobey (gv)
• Norwegian: elastisk (no), strekkbar (no)
• Persian: الاستیک (fa), ارتجاعی (fa), کشسان (fa)
• Russian: эластичный (ru) (elastíčnyj) , гибкий (ru) (gíbkij) 
• Scottish Gaelic: lastaig (gd)
• Spanish: elástico (es) m
• Turkish: elastik (tr)
• Ukrainian: еластичний (uk) (elastychny) 

made of elastic

• Bulgarian: ластичен (bg) (lastičen)
• Dutch: elastieken (nl)
• Finnish: elastinen (fi)
• French: élastique (fr) m and f

• Irish: leaisteach (ga)
• Jèrriais: êlastique
• Scottish Gaelic: lastaig (gd)

elasticated — see elasticated

sensitive to changes in price

• French: élastique (fr) m and f
• Jèrriais: êlastique

• Norwegian: priselastisk (no)

Noun

elastic (countable and uncountable; plural elastics)

1. (uncountable) An elastic material used in clothing, particularly in waistbands and cuffs.

   Running shorts use elastic to eliminate the need for a belt.

2. (countable) An elastic band.

Translations

material

• Bulgarian: ластик (bg) m (lastik)
• French: élastique m

• Scottish Gaelic: lastaig (gd) f

elastic band — see elastic band

External links

• elastic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• elastic in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• elastic at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• Castile, laciest, latices, salicet