elastic
pronunciation
How to pronounce elastic in British English:
UK [ɪˈlæstɪk]
How to pronounce elastic in American English:
US [ɪˈlæstɪk]
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- Noun:
- a narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together
- an elastic fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material
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- Adjective:
- capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy
- able to adjust readily to different conditions
Word Origin
- elastic
- elastic: [17] Greek elaúnein meant ‘drive’. From it was derived the late Greek adjective elastikós, which had the sense ‘driving, propelling’. Its Latin version elasticus was used by the French scientist Jean Pecquet (1622–74) in describing the expansive properties of gases, and that is the sense in which it was originally adopted into English. Its transference to the wider meaning ‘returning to a former state after contracting’ took place towards the end of the 17th century.
- elastic (adj.)
- 1650s, formerly also elastick, coined in French (1650s) as a scientific term to describe gases, from Modern Latin elasticus, from Greek elastos "ductile, flexible," related to elaunein "to strike, beat out," which is of uncertain origin; according to Watkins from an extended form of the PIE base *ele- "to go." Applied to solids from 1670s. Figurative use by 1859. The noun meaning "piece of elastic material," originally a cord or string woven with rubber, is from 1847, American English.
Synonym
Antonym
Example
- 1. Are they fixed , fluid or elastic ?
- 2. But the elastic , forgiving nature of the language itself was another .
- 3. Justice in south korea can be elastic .
- 4. Supply of debt is therefore totally elastic in all but the very short term .
- 5. Rigid casings will make the antenna more solid and rubber ones will allow it to stretch like an elastic band .