Elastic vs. Plastic — What's the Difference?

Easily resuming original size or shape after being stretched or otherwise deformed; flexible.

Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes.

Relating to a collision in which the total kinetic energy is conserved.

A synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers such as polyethylene, PVC, nylon, etc., that can be moulded into shape while soft, and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form

Quick to recover, as from disappointment; resilient

Made of plastic

Capable of being adapted to change or a variety of circumstances

(of a substance or material) easily shaped or moulded

(Economics) Of, relating to, or being a good for which changes in price have a large effect on the quantity demanded or supplied.

Capable of being shaped or formed

A flexible stretchable fabric made with interwoven strands of rubber or an imitative synthetic fiber.

Relating to or dealing with shaping or modeling

An object made of this fabric.

Having the qualities of sculpture; well-formed

A rubber band.

Giving form or shape to a substance

Capable of stretching; particularly, capable of stretching so as to return to an original shape or size when force is released.

Easily influenced; impressionable

Made of elastic.

Made of a plastic or plastics

Of clothing, elasticated.

(Physics) Capable of undergoing continuous deformation without rupture or relaxation.

(economics) Sensitive to changes in price.

Capable of building tissue; formative.

Springy; bouncy; vivacious

Able to change and adapt, especially by acquiring alternative pathways for sensory perception or motor skills. Used of the central nervous system.

Pervasive, all-encompassing.

Marked by artificiality or superficiality

Able to return quickly to a former state or condition, after being depressed or overtaxed; having power to recover easily from shocks and trials.

(Informal) Of or obtained by means of credit cards

(uncountable) An elastic material used in clothing, particularly in waistbands and cuffs.

Any of various organic compounds produced by polymerization, capable of being molded, extruded, cast into various shapes and films, or drawn into filaments used as textile fibers.

(countable) An elastic band.

(Informal) A credit card or credit cards

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.

A synthetic, solid, hydrocarbon-based polymer, whether thermoplastic or thermosetting.

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.

Credit or debit cards used in place of cash to buy goods and services.

An elastic woven fabric, as a belt, braces or suspenders, etc., made in part of India rubber.

Insincerity; fakeness, or a person who is fake or arrogant, or believes that they are better than the rest of the population.

A narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together

An instance of plastic surgery.

An elastic fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material

(obsolete) A sculptor, moulder.

Capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy;

(archaic) Any solid but malleable substance.

Able to adjust readily to different conditions;

Capable of being moulded; malleable, flexible, pliant.

Producing tissue.

(dated) Creative, formative.

(biology) Capable of adapting to varying conditions; characterized by environmental adaptability.

Of or pertaining to the inelastic, non-brittle, deformation of a material.

Made of plastic.

Inferior or not the real thing.

Fake; insincere.

Having the power to give form or fashion to a mass of matter; as, the plastic hand of the Creator.

Capable of being molded, formed, or modeled, as clay or plaster; - used also figuratively; as, the plastic mind of a child.

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.

A substance composed predominantly of a synthetic organic high polymer capable of being cast or molded; many varieties of plastic are used to produce articles of commerce (after 1900). [MW10 gives origin of word as 1905]

Generic name for certain synthetic or semisynthetic materials that can be molded or extruded into objects or films or filaments or used for making e.g. coatings and adhesives

Used of the imagination;

Capable of being molded or modeled (especially of earth or clay or other soft material);

Capable of being influenced or formed;