Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Plastic?

\-plas"tic\ (-pl[a^]s"t[i^]k). [Gr. ? fit for molding, plastic, fr. ? to mold, to form.] A combining form signifying developing, forming, growing; as, heteroplastic, monoplastic, polyplastic.
\Plas"tic\ (pl[a^]s"t[i^]k), a. [L. plasticus, Gr. ?, fr. ? to form, mold: cf. F. plastique.] 1. Having the power to give form or fashion to a mass of matter; as, the plastic hand of the Creator. --Prior. See plastic Nature working to his end. --Pope. 2. Capable of being molded, formed, or modeled, as clay or plaster; -- used also figuratively; as, the plastic mind of a child. 3. 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. Medallions . . . fraught with the plastic beauty and grace of the palmy days of Italian art. --J. S. Harford. {Plastic clay} (Geol.), one of the beds of the Eocene period; -- so called because used in making pottery. --Lyell. {Plastic element} (Physiol.), one that bears within the germs of a higher form. {Plastic exudation} (Med.), an exudation thrown out upon a wounded surface and constituting the material of repair by which the process of healing is effected. {Plastic foods}. (Physiol.) See the second Note under {Food}. {Plastic force}. (Physiol.) See under {Force}. {Plastic operation}, an operation in plastic surgery. {Plastic surgery}, that branch of surgery which is concerned with the repair or restoration of lost, injured, or deformed parts of the body.