elastic

adjective elas·tic \ i-ˈla-stik \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

Definition of elastic

1 a of a solid : capable of recovering size and shape after deformation

b : relating to or being a collision between particles in which the total kinetic energy of the particles remains unchanged

2 : capable of recovering quickly especially from depression or disappointment

my elastic spirits revived
—Wilkie Collins

3 : capable of being easily stretched or expanded and resuming former shape : flexible

an elastic bandage

4 a : capable of ready change or easy expansion or contraction : not rigid or constricted

an elastic concept

b : receptive to new ideas : adaptable

an elastic mind

—

elastically

play \i-ˈla-sti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See elastic defined for English-language learners

See elastic defined for kids

Examples of elastic in a Sentence

when vacationing, we generally have very elastic daily sightseeing plans

Recent Examples of elastic from the Web

Gluten—the elastic strands that give bread its chewy texture—forms when certain proteins in flour interact with water, which is desirable in bread, but not tender cake.

— claire saffitz, Bon Appetit, "This Easy Sheet Cake Recipe Doesn't Seem Like It Should Work, but It's Incredible," 16 Apr. 2018
Don’t forget to cover the bottom elastic with even more petals (using a comb or a few pins) to solidify the illusion.

— jenna rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "Death to Flower Crowns. These Are The New Ways To Wear Hair Flowers.," 12 Apr. 2018
In my experience, mania is like having an elastic view of reality, where regular limitations seem negotiable, including the balance in my bank account.

— erin stewart, SELF, "My Bipolar Disorder Makes Me Want to Spend Money I Don’t Have," 9 Apr. 2018
What’s more, this family kept finding ways to hoard more and more magic, only increasing the inequality of the show’s most elastic metaphor.

— todd vanderwerff, Vox, "FX’s Legion, Syfy’s The Magicians, and the reign of BIG MOMENT TV," 8 Apr. 2018
Her voice, adept at elastic runs and flowery embellishments, is also soulful and sincere.

— joel rozen, New York Times, "Opera’s Miss Congeniality Takes On a Rare ‘Cinderella’," 6 Apr. 2018
Consistency should be a smooth, loose sauce that has elastic stretch to it.

— Fox News, "Chef Mark Bailey's Last-Minute Romantic Valentine's Day Dinner!," 14 Feb. 2018
Last year, imports of elastic knit pants surpassed those of jeans for the first time ever, according to the US Census Bureau.

— BostonGlobe.com, "State fines LendingClub $2 million," 3 Apr. 2018
Last year, imports of elastic knit pants surpassed those of jeans for the first time ever, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

— Bloomberg.com, "Blue Jeans are Mounting a Comeback," 2 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'elastic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of elastic

New Latin elasticus, from Late Greek elastos ductile, beaten, from Greek elaunein to drive, beat out; probably akin to Greek ēlythe he went, Old Irish luid

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1674

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

elastic Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of elastic

elastic, resilient, springy, flexible, supple mean able to endure strain without being permanently injured. elastic implies the property of resisting deformation by stretching.

- an elastic waistband

resilient implies the ability to recover shape quickly when the deforming force or pressure is removed.

- a resilient innersole

springy stresses both the ease with which something yields to pressure and the quickness of its return to original shape.

- the cake is done when the top is springy

flexible applies to something which may or may not be resilient or elastic but which can be bent or folded without breaking.

- flexible plastic tubing

supple applies to something that can be readily bent, twisted, or folded without any sign of injury.

- supple leather

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

elastic

noun

Definition of elastic

1 a : easily stretched rubber usually prepared in cords, strings, or bands

b : rubber band

2 a : an elastic fabric usually made of yarns containing rubber

b : something made from this fabric

See elastic defined for English-language learners

Examples of elastic in a Sentence

She wrapped an elastic around the cards.

Recent Examples of elastic from the Web

These are high-brow and highly enjoyable alternatives to generic elastics that wind around hair and are a pain to take out.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "Silk Scrunchies Are Here," 13 Mar. 2018
Flip the tail ends up, tuck them in between your head and the clear elastics, and pull them out through the bottom to create the topsy tails.

— brooke shunatona, Cosmopolitan, "15 Super-Easy Hairstyles for Lazy Girls Who Can't Even," 12 Dec. 2017
Friendships should be enduring and flexible like rubber bands, but sometimes elastics snap.

— jessica ariel wendroff, Teen Vogue, "5 Signs It's Time to Break Up With Your BFF," 2 Nov. 2017
Add colored elastics into her hair to add a fun touch to this versatile updo.

— sasha henriques, Woman's Day, "The 10 Best Back-to-School Hairstyles for Kids," 25 July 2017
The boy briefs of early American Apparel live on in Sloane & Tate’s high-cut briefs and triangle bras, made from cotton and jock-strappy elastics.

— kat stoeffel, The Cut, "Where Do You Buy Comfy-Slutty Underwear in a World Without American Apparel?," 17 July 2017

First Known Use of elastic

1847

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Financial Definition of ELASTIC

elastic

adjective

What It Is

Something is elastic when its price varies with the price of another item. It the business world, the term most often refers to how much the price of a good or service changes when the supply of that good or service changes.
The formula for elasticity is:

Elasticity = % Change in Quantity/% Change in Price

How It Works

Let's assume that when gas prices increase by 50%, gas purchases fall by 25%. Using the formula above, we can calculate that the price elasticity of gasoline is:

Elasticity = -25%/50% = -0.50

Thus, we can say that for every percentage point that gas prices increase, gas purchases decrease by half a percentage point. The price of gas is elastic.

Why It Matters

If demand changes a lot when prices change a little, the demand for a product is elastic. This often is the case for products or services for which there are many alternatives or for which consumers are price sensitive.

The opposite is also true: When there is a small change in demand when prices change a lot, the product is inelastic. This is often the case for products and services that people consider necessities and will purchase at almost any price. The presence of few good substitutes and the presence of customer loyalty are also factors. At some point, however, there is a price at which demand for any good or service will fall to zero or near zero.

Source: Investing Answers

ELASTIC Defined for English Language Learners

elastic

adjective

Definition of elastic for English Language Learners

: able to return to an original shape or size after being stretched, squeezed, etc.
: able to be changed

elastic

noun

Definition of elastic for English Language Learners

: material that can be stretched : elastic fabric

ELASTIC Defined for Kids

elastic

adjective elas·tic \ i-ˈla-stik \

Definition of elastic for Students

: capable of returning to original shape or size after being stretched, pressed, or squeezed together

elastic

noun

Definition of elastic for Students

1 : rubber band

2 : material that can be stretched

Medical Dictionary

elastic

adjective elas·tic \ i-ˈlas-tik \

medical Definition of elastic

1 a of a solid : capable of recovering size and shape after deformation

b of a liquid : capable of resisting compression

c of a gas : capable of indefinite expansion

2 : capable of being easily stretched or expanded and resuming former shape

—

elastically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

elastic

noun

medical Definition of elastic

1 a : easily stretched rubber usually prepared in cords, strings, or bands

b : a band of elastic used especially in orthodontics; also : one placed around a tooth at the gumline in effecting its nonsurgical removal

2 a : an elastic fabric usually made of yarns containing rubber

b : something made from this fabric

Learn More about elastic

See words that rhyme with elastic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for elastic Spanish Central: Translation of elastic Nglish: Translation of elastic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of elastic for Arabic speakers

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elastic

Definition of elastic

elastically

Examples of elastic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of elastic from the Web

Origin and Etymology of elastic

elastic Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of elastic

Other Physics Terms

elastic

Definition of elastic

Examples of elastic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of elastic from the Web

First Known Use of elastic

Financial Definition of ELASTIC

What It Is

How It Works

Why It Matters

Phrases Related to ELASTIC

Related Phrases

ELASTIC Defined for English Language Learners

elastic

Definition of elastic for English Language Learners

elastic

Definition of elastic for English Language Learners

ELASTIC Defined for Kids

elastic

Definition of elastic for Students

elastic

Definition of elastic for Students

Medical Dictionary

elastic

medical Definition of elastic

elastically

elastic

medical Definition of elastic

Learn More about elastic

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