plasticity

plas·tic·i·ty

noun \pla-ˈsti-sə-tē\

Definition of PLASTICITY

1

: the quality or state of being plastic; especially : capacity for being molded or altered

2

: the ability to retain a shape attained by pressure deformation

3

: the capacity of organisms with the same genotype to vary in developmental pattern, in phenotype, or in behavior according to varying environmental conditions

4

: the capacity for continuous alteration of the neural pathways and synapses of the living brain and nervous system in response to experience or injury

Examples of PLASTICITY

1. <we chose that type of clay for its greater plasticity>

First Known Use of PLASTICITY

circa 1783

Related to PLASTICITY

Synonyms

malleability

Related Words

adaptability; ductility, pliability, pliableness, pliancy, pliantness, suppleness; elasticity, flexibility, limberness, resilience, workability, workableness

Near Antonyms

inflexibility, rigidity, stiffness

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite

Rhymes with PLASTICITY

basicity, causticity, centricity, chronicity, clonicity, conicity, cyclicity, ethnicity, facticity, felicity, lubricity, mendicity, publicity, rhythmicity, seismicity, simplicity, spasticity, sphericity, tonicity, toxicity, triplicity

plas·tic·i·ty

noun \pla-ˈstis-ət-ē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; plas·tic·i·ties

Medical Definition of PLASTICITY

1

: the quality or state of being plastic; especially : capacity for being molded or altered

2

: the ability to retain a shape attained by pressure deformation

3

: the capacity of organisms with the same genotype to vary in developmental pattern, in phenotype, or in behavior according to varying environmental conditions

4

: the capacity for continuous alteration of the neural pathways and synapses of the living brain and nervous system in response to experience or injury that involves the formation of new pathways and synapses and the elimination or modification of existing ones

plasticity

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Ability of certain solids to flow or to change shape permanently when subjected to stresses between those that produce temporary deformation, or elastic behaviour, and those that cause failure of the material, or rupture (see fracture). Plasticity allows a solid under the action of outside forces to become permanently deformed without rupturing; elasticity enables a solid to return to its original shape after the load is removed. Plastic deformation occurs in many metal-forming processes (rolling, pressing, forging, wire drawing) and in geologic processes (rock folding and rock flow within the Earth under extremely high pressures and at elevated temperatures).