noun / adjective

plastic

Capable of being molded or shaped.

The moist clay stays plastic enough to shape by hand.

Etymology

The Greek adjective concerns shaping or molding. This sense describes the capacity to take a new form, whether or not the substance is a modern synthetic plastic.

More examples

  • The factory molds plastic into toys and kitchen tools.
  • She keeps leftovers in a plastic container.
  • Heat makes the material more plastic and easier to shape.

Forms

plastic · plastics

plasticity noun — The ability to change or be shaped.

Similar words

moldable
Directly describes something that can be formed into shapes.
pliable
Emphasizes bending easily rather than taking a new shape.
malleable
Often describes metals shaped by hammering or pressing.