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.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • elastic — adj 1 Elastic, resilient, springy, flexible, supple are comparable when they mean able to endure strain (as extension, compression, twisting, or bending) without being permanently affected or injured. Elastic and resilient are both general and… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Elastic — E*las tic ([ e]*l[a^]s t[i^]k), a. [Formed fr. Gr. elay nein to drive; prob. akin to L. alacer lively, brisk, and E. alacrity: cf. F. [ e]lastique.] 1. Springing back; having a power or inherent property of returning to the form from which a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • elastic — ELÁSTIC, Ă, elastici, ce, adj., s.n. I. adj. 1. (Despre unele obiecte) Care are proprietatea de a şi modifica forma şi dimensiunile sub acţiunea unei forţe exterioare şi de a reveni de la sine la forma şi dimensiunile iniţiale după încetarea… …   Dicționar Român

  • Elastic — may refer to:*Elastic collision, a term describing collisions in which kinetic energy is conserved *Elastic deformations, a term describing reversible deformations of materials *Elastic, a colloquial noun for certain kinds of elastomers and… …   Wikipedia

  • elastic — [ē las′tik, ilas′tik] adj. [ModL elasticus < LGr elastikos < Gr elaunein, to set in motion, beat out < IE base * el , to drive, move, go > ? LANE1] 1. able to spring back to its original size, shape, or position after being stretched …   English World dictionary

  • elastic — UK US /ɪˈlæstɪk/ adjective ► ECONOMICS relating to a situation in which the number of products sold changes in relation to the product s price: »We re seeing the elastic effect of lower component prices encouraging demand for PCs. »Your problem… …   Financial and business terms

  • Elastic — E*las tic, n. An elastic woven fabric, as a belt, braces or suspenders, etc., made in part of India rubber. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • elastic — [adj1] pliant, rubbery adaptable, bouncy, buoyant, ductile, extendible, extensible, flexible, irrepressible, limber, lithe, malleable, moldable, plastic, pliable, resilient, rubberlike, springy, stretchable, stretchy, supple, tempered, yielding;… …   New thesaurus

  • elastic — index flexible, malleable, pliable, pliant, resilient, sequacious, tractable, volatile, yielding …   Law dictionary

  • elastic — (adj.) 1650s, coined in French (1650s) as a scientific term to describe gases, from Mod.L. elasticus, from Gk. elastos ductile, flexible, related to elaunein to strike, beat out, of uncertain origin. Applied to solids from 1670s. Figurative use… …   Etymology dictionary

  • elastic — ► ADJECTIVE 1) able to resume normal shape spontaneously after being stretched or squeezed. 2) flexible and adaptable. ► NOUN ▪ cord, tape, or fabric which returns to its original length or shape after being stretched. DERIVATIVES elastically… …   English terms dictionary

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