Plastic is a material which is produced from oil by a chemical process and which is usedto make many objects. It is light in weight and does not break easily.
...a wooden crate, sheltered from wetness by sheets of plastic.
A lot of the plastics that carmakers are using cannot be recycled.
...a black plastic bag.
2. adjective
If you describe something as plastic, you mean that you think it looks or tastes unnatural or not real.
[disapproval]
...plastic airline food.
Synonyms: false, artificial, synthetic, superficial More Synonyms of plastic
3. uncountable noun
If you use plastic or plastic money to pay for something, you pay for it with a credit card instead of using cash.
[informal]
Using plastic to pay for an order is simplicity itself.
...shopping with their plastic money.
4. adjective
Something that is plastic is soft and can easily be made into different shapes.
The mud is smooth, soft, and plastic as butter.
Synonyms: pliant, soft, flexible, supple More Synonyms of plastic
plasticity (plæstɪsɪti)uncountable noun
...the plasticity of the flesh. [+ of]
Synonyms: pliability, flexibility, suppleness, malleability More Synonyms of plastic
More Synonyms of plastic
plastic in British English
(ˈplæstɪk, ˈplɑːs-)
noun
1.
any one of a large number of synthetic usually organic materials that have a polymeric structure and can be moulded when soft and then set, esp such a material in a finished state containing plasticizer, stabilizer, filler, pigments, etc. Plastics are classified as thermosetting (such as Bakelite) or thermoplastic (such as PVC) and are used in the manufacture of many articles and in coatings, artificial fibres, etc
Compare resin (sense 2)
2. short for plastic money
adjective
3.
made of plastic
4.
easily influenced; impressionable
the plastic minds of children
5.
capable of being moulded or formed
6. fine arts
a.
of or relating to moulding or modelling
the plastic arts
b.
produced or apparently produced by moulding
the plastic draperies of Giotto's figures
7.
having the power to form or influence
the plastic forces of the imagination
8. biology
of or relating to any formative process; able to change, develop, or grow
plastic tissues
9.
of or relating to plastic surgery
10. slang
superficially attractive yet unoriginal or artificial
plastic food
Derived forms
plastically (ˈplastically) or plasticly (ˈplasticly)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Latin plasticus relating to moulding, from Greek plastikos, from plassein to form
-plastic in British English
combining form in adjective
growing or forming
neoplastic
Word origin
from Greek plastikos; see plastic
plastic in American English
(ˈplæstɪk)
adjective
1.
molding or shaping matter; formative
2.
a.
capable of being molded or shaped
b.
made of a plastic
3.
in a flexible or changing state; impressionable
4.
dealing with molding or modeling, as in sculpture
5. US
a.
characterized by or exhibiting superficiality or a lack of originality; dehumanized; mass-produced
the plastic world of television advertising
b.
hypocritically false or synthetic; phony
a plastic smile
6. US, Informal
of or designating a credit card or credit cards, or credit based on their use
plastic money
7. Biology
capable of readily changing or adapting in form, physiology, or behavior
8. Medicine
a.
of or helpful in the renewal of destroyed or injured tissue
b.
that can be so renewed
9. Physics
capable of continuous and permanent change of shape in any direction without breaking apart
noun
10.
any of various nonmetallic compounds, synthetically produced, usually from organic compounds by polymerization, which can be molded into various forms and hardened, or formed into pliable sheets or films, fibers, flexible or hard foams, etc. for commercial use
11.
something made of plastic
12. Informal
a credit card or credit cards, or credit based on their use
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈpliable
Derived forms
plastically (ˈplastically)
adverb
plasticity (plasˈticity) (ˈplæsˈtɪsəti)
noun
Word origin
L plasticus < Gr plastikos < plassein, to form, prob. < IE base *plā-, flat, to smooth out > plain1
-plastic in American English
(ˈplæstɪk)
1.
forming, developing
homoplastic
2.
of or relating to (a given noun ending in -plasm, -plast, or , -plasty)
rhinoplastic
Word origin
< Gr plastikos: see plastic
Examples of 'plastic' in a sentence
plastic
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
And if you get that wrong it can look like a plastic dummy.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It was discovered in a hospital plastic bag.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There must be a collective noun for these sorry plastic boxes: a good intention?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are plastic, and one of them used to be white.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They are made from recycled plastic and hold up to 3 litres.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
TINY plastic beads used in hundreds of household products are to be banned.
The Sun (2016)
Birds and fish can be harmed by accidentally consuming the cotton bud stems and the plastic can also act as a sponge for chemical pollutants.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The tattooed England winger became hooked on building the plastic toys as he missed all four autumn internationals with a thumb injury and torn quad muscle.
The Sun (2017)
Ditch the plastic Don't microwave food in plastic containers.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Thread fruit on to skewers and place in plastic freezer box with a lid.
The Sun (2013)
What is the most widely used plastic in the world?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Her walls are sheets of plastic and the floor is dirt.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The famous actors look more plastic than the sets and the plot is a video game.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Place in a plastic food bag and seal.
The Sun (2015)
The apparatus is aesthetically fragile and consists of more plastic than metal.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
When a faulty heart valve can be used instead of metal and plastic ones.
The Sun (2013)
The new occupants were planting a tree when they found a plastic bag.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She has had so much plastic surgery she could be melted down and recycled.
The Sun (2011)
We put our plastic in a napkin and asked the waiter to choose.
The Sun (2010)
They are potentially less troublesome than those made of the softer modern plastics.
Randolph, Theron G. & Moss, Ralph W. (contributor) An Alternative Approach to Allergies (1990)
How many bits of plastic do you think they found?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Your passport is taken from you and exchanged for a small plastic card.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Using plastic would mean considerable cost savings.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Return to the plastic box and the freezer.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We used a plastic slide and placed our fingers on it.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Pride of place goes to the plastic toy sailor.
The Sun (2007)
Buy yourself a light, plastic rake to make it easy.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is clad in tactile, warm plastic and is smooth enough to roll through your fingers like a worry stone.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
plastic
British English: plastic /ˈplæstɪk; ˈplɑːs-/ NOUN
item Something that is plastic is made of a light but strong material produced by a chemical process.
...a plastic cup.
American English: plastic
Arabic: بِلاسْتِيكِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: de plástico
Chinese: 塑料的
Croatian: plastičan
Czech: umělohmotný
Danish: uægte
Dutch: plastic
European Spanish: de plástico
Finnish: muovi-
French: plastique
German: aus Plastik
Greek: πλαστικός
Italian: di plastica
Japanese: プラスチックの
Korean: 플라스틱의
Norwegian: plast-
Polish: plastikowy
European Portuguese: de plástico
Romanian: plastic
Russian: пластмассовый
Latin American Spanish: de plástico
Swedish: plast
Thai: ซึ่งทำด้วยพลาสติก
Turkish: plastik
Ukrainian: пластик
Vietnamese: bằng nhựa
British English: plastic /ˈplæstɪk; ˈplɑːs-/ NOUN
substancePlastic is a light but strong material produced by a chemical process.
...sheets of plastic.
American English: plastic
Arabic: بِلاسْتِيك
Brazilian Portuguese: plástico
Chinese: 塑料
Croatian: plastika
Czech: umělá hmota
Danish: plastic
Dutch: plastic
European Spanish: plástico
Finnish: muovi
French: plastique
German: Kunststoff
Greek: πλαστικό
Italian: plastica
Japanese: プラスチック
Korean: 플라스틱
Norwegian: plast
Polish: plastik
European Portuguese: plástico
Romanian: plastic
Russian: пластмасса
Latin American Spanish: plástico
Swedish: plast
Thai: วัตถุพลาสติก
Turkish: plastik
Ukrainian: пластик
Vietnamese: nhựa tổng hợp
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'plastic'
plastic art
an art, as sculpture , in which forms are carved or modeled
plastic bag
a bag made from a very thin flexible plastic
foam plastic
a kind of light cellular plastic made by creating bubbles of gas in the liquid material and solidifying it: often used as an insulator
plastic arts
arts producing works or effects that are three-dimensional , as sculpture or ceramics
plastic bomb
a bomb consisting of a putty-like explosive charge fitted with a detonator and timing device
plastic foam
lightweight cellular foam , used esp for insulation or as a packing material
plastic money
credit cards, used instead of cash
plastic Paddy
a person who, although not born in Ireland, is of Irish descent and places great importance on Irishness
plastic wrap
Plastic wrap is a thin, clear, stretchy plastic which you use to cover food to keep it fresh .
vinyl plastic
any of various plastics made from polymerized vinyl compounds or copolymers of vinyl and other resins , used in various molded or extruded products, coatings , adhesives , sizes, etc.
foamed plastic
See expanded plastic
plastic bullet
A plastic bullet is a large bullet made of plastic, which is intended to make people stop rioting, rather than to kill people.
plastic memory
the tendency of certain plastics after being deformed to resume their original form when heated
plastic piping
Plastic piping is strong, durable , and lightweight pipes, often made from high-density polyethylene.
plastic police
a collective term for several classes of public officer (including community support officers) authorized to perform certain tasks and duties in support of the police force, but having lesser powers than the police
plastic surgeon
A plastic surgeon is a doctor who performs operations to repair or replace skin which has been damaged , or to improve people's appearance .
plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is the practice of performing operations to repair or replace skin which has been damaged , or to improve people's appearance .
expanded plastic
plastic that is made light and spongy by the introduction of pockets of gas or air
plastic explosive
Plastic explosive is a substance which explodes and which is used in making small bombs .
reinforced plastic
plastic with fibrous matter, such as carbon fibre , embedded in it to confer additional strength
plastic deformation
In plastic deformation a material changes shape when a stress is applied to it and does not go back to its original state when the stress is removed.
amino resin
any thermosetting synthetic resin formed by copolymerization of amines or amides with aldehydes . Amino resins are used as adhesives and as coatings for paper and textiles
baton round
a solid PVC cylinder , 10 cm long and 38 mm in diameter , fired by police or military forces to regain control in riots
anaplasty
the branch of surgery concerned with therapeutic or cosmetic repair or re-formation of missing , injured , or malformed tissues or parts
Chinese translation of 'plastic'
plastic
(ˈplæstɪk)
n(c/u)
塑料 (sùliào) (种(種), zhǒng)
adj
[bucket, chair, cup]塑料的 (sùliào de)
(= flexible) 可塑的 (kěsù de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
superficially attractive yet artificial or false
(slang)
So much modern pop music just sounds plastic.
Synonyms
false
He paid for a false passport.
artificial
The voice was affected, the accent artificial.
synthetic
synthetic rubber
superficial
sham
The election has been denounced as a sham by world leaders.
pseudo (informal)
spurious
a spurious framework for analysis
specious
meretricious
meretricious ads that claim their product to be the best around
phoney or phony (informal)
Opposites
natural
,
real
,
true
,
genuine
,
authentic
,
sincere
,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
2 (adjective)
Definition
capable of being moulded or formed
The mud is as soft and plastic as butter.
Synonyms
pliant
pliant young willows
soft
She lay down on the soft, comfortable bed.
flexible
brushes with long, flexible bristles
supple
The leather is supple and sturdy enough to last for years.
pliable
The baskets are made with young, pliable spruce roots.
tensile
ductile
mouldable
fictile
Opposites
hard
,
stiff
,
rigid
,
brittle
,
inflexible
,
unyielding
,
unbending
3 (adjective)
Definition
easily influenced
Synonyms
manageable
responsive
receptive
The patient was not at all receptive to treatment.
compliant
docile
They were docile, obedient children.
impressionable
the age at which you are most impressionable
malleable
She was young enough to be malleable.
pliable
The president was pliable and easily influenced.
tractable
He could easily manage his tractable younger brother.
easily influenced
Opposites
rebellious
,
intractable
,
recalcitrant
,
unmanageable
,
refractory
,
unreceptive
Additional synonyms
in the sense of artificial
Definition
not sincere
The voice was affected, the accent artificial.
Synonyms
insincere,
forced,
affected,
assumed,
phoney or phony (informal),
put on,
false,
pretended,
hollow,
contrived,
unnatural,
feigned,
spurious,
meretricious
in the sense of docile
Definition
(of a person or animal) easily controlled
They were docile, obedient children.
Synonyms
obedient,
manageable,
compliant,
amenable,
submissive,
pliant,
tractable,
biddable,
ductile,
teachable (rare)
in the sense of ductile
Definition
(of a metal) able to be shaped into sheets or drawn out into threads
Synonyms
pliable,
plastic,
flexible,
malleable,
pliant,
tensile,
extensible
Synonyms of 'plastic'
plastic
Explore 'plastic' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flexible
Definition
able to be bent easily without breaking
brushes with long, flexible bristles
Synonyms
pliable,
plastic,
yielding,
elastic,
supple,
lithe,
limber,
springy,
willowy,
pliant,
tensile,
stretchy,
whippy,
lissom(e),
ductile,
bendable,
mouldable
in the sense of impressionable
Definition
easily impressed or influenced
the age at which you are most impressionable
Synonyms
suggestible,
vulnerable,
susceptible,
open,
sensitive,
responsive,
receptive,
gullible,
ingenuous
in the sense of malleable
Definition
able to be influenced
She was young enough to be malleable.
Synonyms
manageable,
adaptable,
compliant,
impressionable,
pliable,
tractable,
biddable,
governable,
like putty in your hands
in the sense of meretricious
meretricious ads that claim their product to be the best around
Synonyms
false,
hollow,
bogus,
put-on,
mock,
sham,
pseudo (informal),
counterfeit,
spurious,
deceitful,
insincere,
specious,
phoney or phony (informal)
in the sense of pliable
Definition
easily bent
The baskets are made with young, pliable spruce roots.
Synonyms
flexible,
plastic,
supple,
lithe,
limber,
malleable,
pliant,
tensile,
bendy,
ductile,
bendable
in the sense of pliable
Definition
easily influenced
The president was pliable and easily influenced.
Synonyms
compliant,
susceptible,
responsive,
manageable,
receptive,
yielding,
adaptable,
docile,
impressionable,
easily led,
pliant,
tractable,
persuadable,
influenceable,
like putty in your hands
in the sense of receptive
The patient was not at all receptive to treatment.
Synonyms
responsive,
sensitive
in the sense of responsive
Definition
reacting quickly or favourably to something
Synonyms
sensitive,
open,
aware,
sharp,
alive,
forthcoming,
sympathetic,
awake,
susceptible,
receptive,
reactive,
perceptive,
impressionable,
quick to react
in the sense of sham
Definition
not real or genuine
The election has been denounced as a sham by world leaders.
Synonyms
false,
artificial,
bogus,
pretended,
mock,
synthetic,
imitation,
simulated,
pseudo (informal),
counterfeit,
feigned,
spurious,
ersatz,
pseud (informal),
phoney or phony (informal)
in the sense of soft
Definition
not hard
She lay down on the soft, comfortable bed.
Synonyms
yielding,
flexible,
pliable,
cushioned,
elastic,
malleable,
spongy,
springy,
cushiony
Additional synonyms
in the sense of spurious
Definition
not genuine or real
a spurious framework for analysis
Synonyms
false,
bogus,
sham,
pretended,
artificial,
forged,
fake,
mock,
imitation,
simulated,
contrived,
pseudo (informal),
counterfeit,
feigned,
ersatz,
specious,
unauthentic,
phoney or phony (informal)
in the sense of supple
Definition
(of a material or object) soft and bending easily without breaking
The leather is supple and sturdy enough to last for years.
Synonyms
pliant,
flexible,
pliable,
plastic,
bending,
elastic,
rubbery,
bendable,
stretchable
in the sense of synthetic
Definition
(of a substance or material) made artificially by chemical reaction
synthetic rubber
Synonyms
artificial,
manufactured,
fake,
man-made,
mock,
simulated,
sham,
pseudo (informal),
ersatz
in the sense of tractable
Definition
easy to control, manage, or deal with
He could easily manage his tractable younger brother.