plastic
♦ plas|tic /pl'æstɪk/ (plastics)
1 [N-MASS] oft N n
Plastic is a material which is produced from oil by a chemical process and which is used to make many objects. It is light in weight and does not break easily.
...a wooden crate, sheltered from wetness by sheets of plastic...
A lot of the plastics that carmakers are using cannot be recycled.
...a black plastic bag.
2 [ADJ]
If you describe something as plastic, you mean that you think it looks or tastes unnatural or not real.
...plastic airline food...
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
If you use plastic or plastic money to pay for something, you pay for it with a credit card instead of using cash. (INFORMAL)
Using plastic to pay for an order is simplicity itself.
4 [ADJ]
Something that is plastic is soft and can easily be made into different shapes.
The mud is smooth, gray, soft, and plastic as butter.
● plasticity [N-UNCOUNT]
...the plasticity of the flesh.plas|tic bul|let (plastic bullets)
[N-COUNT]
A plastic bullet is a large bullet made of plastic, which is intended to make people stop rioting, rather than to kill people.plas|tic ex|plo|sive (plastic explosives)
[N-MASS]
Plastic explosive is a substance which explodes and which is used in making small bombs.plas|tic sur|geon (plastic surgeons)
[N-COUNT]
A plastic surgeon is a doctor who performs operations to repair or replace skin which has been damaged, or to improve people's appearance.plas|tic sur|gery
[N-UNCOUNT]
Plastic surgery is the practice of performing operations to repair or replace skin which has been damaged, or to improve people's appearance.
She even had plastic surgery to change the shape of her nose.plas|tic wrap
[N-UNCOUNT]
Plastic wrap is a thin, clear, stretchy plastic which you use to cover food to keep it fresh. (AM; in BRIT, use clingfilm)
= Saran wrap
1 [N-MASS] oft N n
Plastic is a material which is produced from oil by a chemical process and which is used to make many objects. It is light in weight and does not break easily.
...a wooden crate, sheltered from wetness by sheets of plastic...
A lot of the plastics that carmakers are using cannot be recycled.
...a black plastic bag.
2 [ADJ]
If you describe something as plastic, you mean that you think it looks or tastes unnatural or not real.
...plastic airline food...
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
If you use plastic or plastic money to pay for something, you pay for it with a credit card instead of using cash. (INFORMAL)
Using plastic to pay for an order is simplicity itself.
4 [ADJ]
Something that is plastic is soft and can easily be made into different shapes.
The mud is smooth, gray, soft, and plastic as butter.
● plasticity [N-UNCOUNT]
...the plasticity of the flesh.plas|tic bul|let (plastic bullets)
[N-COUNT]
A plastic bullet is a large bullet made of plastic, which is intended to make people stop rioting, rather than to kill people.plas|tic ex|plo|sive (plastic explosives)
[N-MASS]
Plastic explosive is a substance which explodes and which is used in making small bombs.plas|tic sur|geon (plastic surgeons)
[N-COUNT]
A plastic surgeon is a doctor who performs operations to repair or replace skin which has been damaged, or to improve people's appearance.plas|tic sur|gery
[N-UNCOUNT]
Plastic surgery is the practice of performing operations to repair or replace skin which has been damaged, or to improve people's appearance.
She even had plastic surgery to change the shape of her nose.plas|tic wrap
[N-UNCOUNT]
Plastic wrap is a thin, clear, stretchy plastic which you use to cover food to keep it fresh. (AM; in BRIT, use clingfilm)
= Saran wrap