[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/plastic/)

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# plastic

noun (plastic, plastics); adjective (plastic — made of plastic; easily shaped)

«plastic» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A light, strong material made in factories, often from oil, used for bottles, toys and bags. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#m1)
2. As an adjective, made of plastic: "a plastic cup". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#m2)
3. As an adjective, easy to bend and shape. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#m3)
4. (Informal) Credit or bank cards: "pay with plastic". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science, plastic is a material: waterproof, light, can be bent or moulded, an insulator (does not carry electricity); it takes hundreds of years to break down, so reduce, reuse and recycle; plastic in the sea hurts animals. In safety: keep plastic bags away from babies. Phrases: plastic bag, plastic bottle, single-use plastic, plastic surgery.

### Examples

- This bottle is made of plastic. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#x1)
- Plastic does not let electricity through. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#x2)
- Recycle your plastic bottles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#x3)
- Plastic in the sea can hurt turtles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#x4)
- Keep plastic bags away from babies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#x5)
- Lego bricks are plastic. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#x6)
- Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#x7)
- Use a reusable bag instead of a plastic one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/#x8)

### Note

Usually uncountable as a material: "made of plastic"; "plastics" for kinds. Plastic is an insulator, so plugs and wires are covered in it. Plastic surgery doesn't use plastic; "plastic" there means "shaping".

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «plastic» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plastic/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«plastic» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/plastic.html) on Mova free.

