1. Capable of being formed or molded. 2. A material that can be shaped by pressure or heat to the form of a cavity or mold. [G. plastikos, relating to molding]
- Bingham p. a material that, in the idealized case, does not flow until a critical stress (yield stress) is exceeded, and then flows at a rate proportional to the excess of stress over the yield stress; real materials probably only approach this ideal model.
- modeling p. a thermoplastic material usually composed of gum damar and prepared chalk, used especially for making dental impressions. SYN: impression compound, modeling composition, modeling compound.
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plas·tic 'plas-tik adj
1) made or consisting of a plastic
2) capable of being deformed continuously and permanently in any direction without breaking or tearing
3 a) capable of growth, repair, or differentiation <a \plastic tissue>
b) relating to, characterized by, or exhibiting neural plasticity
4) of, relating to, or involving plastic surgery <\plastic repair>
plastic n
1) a plastic substance specif any of numerous organic synthetic or processed materials that are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into objects, films, or filaments
2) an object made of plastic
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plas·tic (plasґtik) [Gr. plastikos, from plassein to form] 1. tending to build up tissues or to restore a lost part. 2. conformable; capable of being molded. 3. a high-molecular-weight polymeric material, usually organic, capable of being molded, extruded, drawn, or otherwise shaped and then hardened into a form. 4. material that can be molded.Medical dictionary. 2011.