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   elastic

   /ɪˈlastɪk/

   adjective

   • 1. (of an object or material) able to resume its normal shape spontaneously after being stretched or compressed: "a tourniquet of rubber tubing or other elastic material is placed around the upper arm" Similar stretchystretchablespringyflexiblepliantpliablesuppleyieldingrubberyelasticizedplasticrecoilingresilientbouncyelasticatedrare:tensibleOpposite rigid
   • 2. able to encompass much variety and change; flexible and adaptable: "the definition of nationality is elastic in this cosmopolitan country" Similar adaptableflexibleadjustablepliantcompliantaccommodatingmalleablevariablefluidversatileconformableinformal:easy
   • 3. (of demand or supply) sensitive to changes in price or income: "the labour supply is very elastic"
   • 4. (of a collision) involving no decrease of kinetic energy.

   noun

   • 1. cord, tape, or fabric, woven with strips of rubber, which returns to its original length or shape after being stretched: "a polythene bag tied with elastic"

   Word Origin mid 17th century (originally describing a gas in the sense ‘expanding spontaneously to fill the available space’): from modern Latin elasticus, from Greek elastikos ‘propulsive’, from elaunein ‘to drive’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. elastically adverb

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • E

     1

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • S

     1

   • T

     1

   • I

     1

   • C

     3

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