Main Entry:

mal·lea·ble

Pronunciation:

\ˈma-lē-ə-bəl, ˈmal-yə-bəl, ˈma-lə-bəl\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English malliable, from Medieval Latin malleabilis, from malleare to hammer, from Latin malleus hammer — more at maul

Date:

14th century

1: capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer or by the pressure of rollers2 a: capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences b: having a capacity for adaptive change

synonyms see plastic

— mal·lea·bil·i·ty \ˌma-lē-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē, ˌmal-yə-, ˌma-lə-\ noun