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
"The recycling center sorted the plastic bottles from the glass jars at the end of the line."
a card (usually plastic) that assures a seller that the person using it has a satisfactory credit rating and that the issuer will see to it that the seller receives payment for the merchandise delivered
"do you take plastic?"
A synthetic, solid, hydrocarbon-based polymer, whether thermoplastic or thermosetting.
"The recycling plant separates the clear plastic from the metal to ensure only the correct type of synthetic polymer is processed for reuse."
In plain English: Plastic is a man-made material that can be molded into different shapes and does not rot easily.
"She reached for a new bag of plastic to carry her groceries."
Usage: Use "plastic" to refer to the versatile synthetic material made from petroleum used in products like bottles and packaging. Avoid using it as a verb meaning "to mold" unless you are specifically describing the act of shaping this material.
Capable of being moulded; malleable, flexible, pliant.
"The old clay was too dry to be plastic, so I had to add more water before I could shape it into a bowl."
In plain English: Plastic describes something that can be easily shaped or molded into different forms.
"She packed her clothes in plastic bags for the trip."
Usage: Use "plastic" as an adjective to describe materials that can be shaped or molded, such as clay or dough, rather than referring to the synthetic polymer itself. Avoid using it to mean flexible in a general sense unless specifically discussing moldable substances.
The word "plastic" comes from the Latin plasticus, meaning "of molding," which was borrowed from the Ancient Greek plastikos. It entered English via French to describe materials that can be shaped or molded into various forms.