Definition of plastic Plastic

/plæˈstɪk/ - [plastik] - plas•tic

We found 25 definitions of plastic from 7 different sources.

What does plastic mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: plastics
plastic - generic name for certain synthetic or semisynthetic materials that can be molded or extruded into objects or films or filaments or used for making e.g. coatings and adhesives
		solid a three-dimensional shape
		abs, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene any of a class of composite plastics used to make car bodies and cases for computers and other appliances
		mylar a thin polyester film
		thermoplastic, thermoplastic resin a material that softens when heated and hardens again when cooled
		thermosetting compositions, thermosetting resin a material that hardens when heated and cannot be remolded
		bakelite a thermosetting plastic used as electric insulators and for making plastic ware and telephone receivers etc.
		polytetrafluoroethylene, teflon a material used to coat cooking utensils and in industrial applications where sticking is to be avoided
		vinylite any of various vinyl resins
		resinoid a plastic containing resins
		amino plastic, amino resin, aminoplast a plastic (synthetic resin) made from amino compounds; used as an adhesive and as a coating for paper and textiles
		cellulosic a plastic made from cellulose (or a derivative of cellulose)
		coumarone-indene resin, coumarone resin a thermoplastic resin obtained by polymerization of indene and coumarone; used in coatings and paint and asphalt tile
		fluorocarbon plastic a plastic made with fluorocarbon
		phenolic plastic, phenolic urea a plastic consisting of phenolic resins
		polyester any of a large class of synthetic fabrics
		polypropene, polypropylene a polymer of propylene used as a thermoplastic molding material
		polyvinyl-formaldehyde a polymer of vinyl formaldehyde
		silicone resin a polymeric silicone compound
plastic - a card (usually plastic) that assures a seller that the person using it has a satisfactory credit rating and that the issuer will see to it that the seller receives payment for the merchandise delivered; "do you take plastic?"
		credit card, charge card, charge plate
		charge account credit, open-end credit, revolving credit a consumer credit line that can be used up to a certain limit or paid down at any time
		positive identification evidence proving that you are who you say you are; evidence establishing that you are among the group of people already known to the system; recognition by the system leads to acceptance; "a system for positive identification can prevent the use of a single identity by several people"
		magnetic stripe a short strip of magnetic tape attached to a credit card or debit card; it contains data that will tell a reading device who you are and what your account number is, etc.
		bank card a credit card issued by a bank
		phone card, calling card a distinguishing characteristic or behavior; "bombs are a terrorist's calling cards"
Adjective plastic, plasticcer, plasticcest
plastic - capable of being influenced or formed; "the plastic minds of children"; "a pliant nature"
		pliant
		impressible, impressionable, waxy easily impressed or influenced; "an impressionable youngster"; "an impressionable age"; "a waxy mind"
plastic - capable of being molded or modeled (especially of earth or clay or other soft material); "plastic substances such as wax or clay"
		fictile, moldable
		elastic capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy; "an elastic band"; "a youthful and elastic walk"
plastic - forming or capable of forming or molding or fashioning; "a formative influence"; "a formative experience"
		formative, shaping
		constructive constructing or tending to construct or improve or promote development; "constructive criticism"; "a constructive attitude"; "a constructive philosophy"; "constructive permission"

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Wiktionary

plastic (Noun)
A sculptor, moulder.
plastic (Noun)
Any solid but malleable substance.
plastic (Noun)
A synthetic, thermoplastic, solid, hydrocarbon-based polymer.
plastic (Noun)
Any similar synthetic material, not necessarily thermoplastic.
plastic (Noun)
credit credit or debit card s used in place of cash to buy goods and services.
plastic (Noun)
Fakeness, or a person who is fake or arrogant, or believes that they are better than the rest of the population.
plastic (Adjective)
Capable of being moulded; malleable, flexible, pliant.
plastic (Adjective)
Of or pertaining to the inelastic, non-brittle, deformation of a material.
plastic (Adjective)
Made of plastic.
plastic (Adjective)
Inferior or not the real thing; ersatz.
plastic (Adjective)
Fake, snobbish. Usually refers to a person.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

plastic (a.)
Having the power to give form or fashion to a mass of matter; as, the plastic hand of the Creator.
plastic (a.)
Capable of being molded, formed, or modeled, as clay or plaster; -- used also figuratively; as, the plastic mind of a child.
plastic (a.)
Pertaining or appropriate to, or characteristic of, molding or modeling; produced by, or appearing as if produced by, molding or modeling; -- said of sculpture and the kindred arts, in distinction from painting and the graphic arts.
plastic (n.)
a substance composed predominantly of a synthetic organic high polymer capable of being cast or molded; many varieties of plastic are used to produce articles of commerce (after 1900). [MW10 gives origin of word as 1905]

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

plastic
A polymeric material (usually organic) of large molecular weight which can be shaped by flow; usually refers to the final product with fillers, plasticizers, pigments, and stabilizers included (versus the resin, the homogeneous polymeric starting material); examples are polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and urea-formaldehyde.
plastic
Capable of being molded or modeled.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

plastic
plas′tik, adj. having power to give form to: capable of being moulded: of or pertaining to moulding.—ns. Plastic′ity, state or quality of being plastic; Plastilī′na, a modelling clay which remains soft and plastic for a considerable time; Plastog′raphy, imitation of handwriting. [Gr. plastikos—plassein, to mould.]

Wikipedia

A plastic is a material that can change its shape, so many things can be made of plastic. There are many types of plastic. Some can be shaped only when they are freshly made; then they become hard afterwards. Others can be changed by heating them up or even by melting them.

Most plastics are man-made; they do not occur in nature. They are often made from oil that comes out of the ground. The process of making plastics is usually quite complicated. Most of the materials that are called "plastic" are polymers. Polymers are long chains of atoms bonded to one another.

People experimented with plastics based on natural polymers for a very long time. Alexander Parkes, an English inventor (1813-1890), created the earliest fom of plastic in 1855. It was hard but flexible and transparent, and he called it "Parkensine."

Plastic is filling up the landfills and sometimes if you burn them, they release toxic fumes. If you don't recycle, it becomes waste.