a narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together
"She placed her stack of receipts inside an elastic band before putting them in her wallet."
a fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material
"She bought a stretchy pair of pants because they were made from an elastic fabric perfect for yoga."
An elastic material used in clothing, particularly in waistbands and cuffs.
"The new pair of jeans features a stretchy elastic band at the waist to ensure a comfortable fit."
In plain English: An elastic is a stretchy band used to hold things together tightly but loosely enough that they can be pulled apart and then snap back into place.
"The elastic in my waistband snapped after I wore it all day."
capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy
"an elastic band"
"a youthful and elastic walk"
Capable of stretching; particularly, capable of stretching so as to return to an original shape or size when force is released.
"The rubber band stretched easily and snapped back to its original length once the pressure was removed."
In plain English: Elastic means something that can stretch and then go back to its original shape.
"The elastic band stretched easily to hold her hair in place."
Usage: Use the adjective "elastic" to describe materials that stretch and snap back to their original form, such as rubber bands or spandex fabric. When referring specifically to the band itself rather than its property of stretching, use it as a noun like an elastic in your waistband.
The word "elastic" comes from the French élastique and New Latin elasticus, which were borrowed from Ancient Greek. It originally described something that could be easily stretched or bent before returning to its original shape.