elastic

a. [ Formed fr. Gr. 'elay`nein to drive; prob. akin to L. alacer lively, brisk, and E. alacrity: cf. F. élastique. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Elastic bitumen. (Min.) See Elaterite. --
Elastic curve. (a) (Geom.) The curve made by a thin elastic rod fixed horizontally at one end and loaded at the other. (b) (Mech.) The figure assumed by the longitudinal axis of an originally straight bar under any system of bending forces. Rankine. --
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 (Mech.), 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 (Anat.), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An elastic woven fabric, as a belt, braces or suspenders, etc., made in part of India rubber. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Elastic. [ R. ] Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an elastic manner; by an elastic power; with a spring. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as rubber band. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. élasticité. ] 1. The quality of being elastic; the inherent property in bodies by which they recover their former figure or dimensions, after the removal of external pressure or altering force; springiness; resilience; tendency to rebound; as, the elasticity of caoutchouc; the elasticity of the air. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Power of resistance to, or recovery from, depression or overwork; -- usually referred to as resilience[ 3 ]. [ 1913 Webster ]

Coefficient of elasticity, the quotient of a stress (of a given kind), by the strain (of a given kind) which it produces; -- called also coefficient of resistance. --
Surface of elasticity (Geom.), the pedal surface of an ellipsoid (see Pedal); a surface used in explaining the phenomena of double refraction and their relation to the elastic force of the luminous ether in crystalline media. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. made with strands or inserts of elastic, allowing it to stretch; -- of fabrics; as, slacks with an elasticized waistband. [ WordNet 1.5 ]