elastic (elastik)

and n. [Formerly also elastick (first recorded in the form elastical: see first quot.); = F. élast i que = Sp. elástico = Pg. It. elastico (cf. D. G. elastisch = Dan. Sw. elas tisk ), By what elastick engines did she rear The starry roof, and roll the orbs in air? Sir R. Black more. 1862 2. Having, as a solid body, the power of returning to the form from which it is bent, extended, pre ed, pulled, or distorted, as soon as the force applied is removed; having, as a fluid, the property of recovering its former volume after compre ion. A body is perfectly elastic when it has the property of resisting a given deformation equal ly, however that deformation may have been produced, whether slowly or suddenly, etc. All bodies, however, have different elasticities at different temperatures, and if the deformation is so sudden as to change the temperature of the body and so alter its resistance to deform a tion, this is not considered as showing it to be imperfect ly elastic. For the more easy understanding of the experiments triable by our engine, I thought it hot superfluous nor unseasonable, in the recital of this first of them, to insinuate that notion by which it seems likely that most, if not all of them, will prove explicable. Your Lordship will easily suppose that the notion I speak of is that there is a spring, or elastical power, in the air we live in. By which ἐλατήρ or spring of the air, that which I mean is this that our air either consists of, or at least abounds with, parts of such a nature that in case they be bent or compre ed by the weight of the incumbent part of the atmosphere, or by any other body, they do endeavor, as much as in them lieth, to free themselves from that pre ure, by bearing against the contiguous bodies that keep them bent; and as soon as those bodies are removed, or reduced to give them way, by presently unbending and stretching out themselves, either quite, or so far forth as the contiguous bodies that resist them permit, and thereby expanding the whole parcel of air these elastical bodies compose. Boyle , Spring of the Air (1659). A body is called elastic in which a particle moved from its natural position of equilibrium has a tendency to return to its first position as soon as the external cause which had displaced it has ceased. Blaserna , Sound (trans.), p. 4. Figuratively-3. Admitting of extension; capable of expanding and contracting, according to circumstances; hence, yielding and accommodating: as, an elastic conscience; elastic principles. A volunteer navy may in some degree supply the place of privateers, supposing that plenty of time and an elastic organization are at command. J. R. Soley , Blockade and Cruisers, p. 169. 4. Po e ing the power or quality of recovering from depre ion or exhaustion; able to resist a depre ing or exhausting influence; capable of sustaining shocks without permanent injury: as, elastic spirits. The herds are elastic with health. Landor. Curve of elastic resistance. See curve. - Elastic belting, a material made in bands from half an inch to several inches in width, plain or striped, and having thin slips of india-rubber lying in the direction of its length and covered by woven material of cotton, silk, or the like, which completely conceals the india-rubber, unle the belting is stretched. The threads of rubber are usually square in section, having been cut from thin sheets. Elastic bitumen. Same as elaterite. - Elastic button. See button. Elastic cartilage, cartilage represented in the pinna, the epiglottis, and elsewhere, which is opaque, yellowish, flexible, and tough, and in which the matrix except in the immediate vicinity of the cells is permeated by numerous elastic fibers. Elastic curve. See curve. -Elastic fabric, a cloth or ribbon into which threads of rubber called shirrs are woven. - Elastic fibers, in an at., fibers of elastic quality traversing the intercellular substance of connective ti ue. They are of a light-yellow color, branch and anastomose freely, and strongly resist chemical treatment. - Elastic flannel. See flannel.Elastic fluid, a fluid which has the property of expand ing in all directions on the removal of external pre ure, as gases and vapors. See gas. - Elastic glue. See glue. - Elastic gum, india-rubber. - Elastic mineral pitch, a brown, ma ive, elastic variety of bitumen. - Elastic mold, a mold of glue used for copying casts. - Elastic ti ue, in an at., connective ti ue made elastic by the presence of abundant elastic fibers. Such ti ue is found in the middle coat of arteries, the larynx, Eustachian tube, yellow ligaments of the vertebræ, etc., and forms in some animals the lig amentum nuchæ. Mixed with cartilage, it constitutes a variety of the latter known as yellow or elas tic fibrocartilage. Elastic type, a type made of roller composition (glue, glycerin, and sugar) or prepared gutta IMG:content-0279.png:[blocks in formation] If the restitution of a springy body, forcibly bent, proceed only from the endeavor of the compre ed parts themselves to recover their former state, one may not impertinently take notice of the elasticity that iron, silver and bra acquire by hammering. Boyle, Great Effects of Motion. On the fingers of the queen were ten gold rings, the hoops of which were not continuous, but open like bracelets to admit of elasticity . C. T. Newton, Art and Archæol., p. 382. Never did the finances of the country give stronger evidence of vitality, soundne , and elasticity than was produced when Lowe, on opening the budget of 1871 on April 20, showed the yield of the revenue for 1870-1 to have exceeded the estimate by two millions and a quarter. S. Dowell , Taxes in England, II. 363. He [Berkeley] returned to have the primacy of Ireland within his reach. But we always feel that he has not the same elasticity and heartine of life as before. Scotsman (newspaper). Axis of elasticity, axis of direct elasticity. See axis1.- Coefficient of elasticity. See coefficient. Elasticity of bulk, resistance to change of bulk.-Elasticity of shape, resistance to change of shape. Fresnel's surface of elasticity, a surface whose radii vectores are proportional to the square roots of the elastic forces which, upon Fresnel's theory of light, are exerted in the directions of those radii round any point of a crystalline body.- Light-elasticity. See light. - Limit of elasticity, an amount of deformation which if applied to a body is such that if made any greater the body will not completely spring back when released. Modulus of elasticity, the ratio of stre to strain: also termed the elasticity simply. See modulus. - Perfect elasticity, the property of being perfectly elastic. See elastic, a., 2 elasticne (e-lás'tik-nes), n. Elasticity. Bailey, 1727. [Rare.]