01 a. Springing back; having a power or inherent property of returning to the form from which a substance is bent, drawn, pressed, or twisted; sp…
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1.
Springing back; having a power or inherent property of returning to the form from which a substance is bent, drawn, pressed, or twisted; springy; having the power of rebounding; as, a bow is elastic; the air is elastic; India rubber is elastic.“Capable of being drawn out by force like a piece of elastic gum, and by its own elasticity returning, when the force is removed, to its former position.” — Paley.
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2.
Able to return quickly to a former state or condition, after being depressed or overtaxed; having power to recover easily from shocks and trials; as, elastic spirits; an elastic constitution.
Phrases & compounds
Elastic bitumen —
See Elaterite.
Elastic curve —
The curve made by a thin elastic rod fixed horizontally at one end and loaded at the other.
Elastic fluids —
those which have the property of expanding in all directions on the removal of external pressure, as the air, steam, and other gases and vapors.
Elastic limit —
the limit of distortion, by bending, stretching, etc., that a body can undergo and yet return to its original form when relieved from stress; also, the unit force or stress required to produce this distortion. Within the elastic limit the distortion is directly proportional to the stress producing it.
Elastic tissue —
a variety of connective tissue consisting of a network of slender and very elastic fibers which are but slightly affected by acids or alkalies.
Gum elastic —
caoutchouc.