\E*las"tic\, a. [Formed fr. Gr. ? to drive; prob. akin
to L. alacer lively, brisk, and E. alacrity: cf. F.
['e]lastique.]
1. Springing back; having a power or inherent property of
   returning to the form from which a substance is bent,
   drawn, pressed, or twisted; springy; having the power of
   rebounding; as, a bow is elastic; the air is elastic;
   India rubber is elastic.
         Capable of being drawn out by force like a piece of
         elastic gum, and by its own elasticity returning,
         when the force is removed, to its former position.
                                               --Paley.
2. Able to return quickly to a former state or condition,
   after being depressed or overtaxed; having power to
   recover easily from shocks and trials; as, elastic
   spirits; an elastic constitution.
{Elastic bitumen}. (Min.) See {Elaterite}.
{Elastic curve}.
   (a) (Geom.) The curve made by a thin elastic rod fixed
       horizontally at one end and loaded at the other.
   (b) (Mech.) The figure assumed by the longitudinal axis of
       an originally straight bar under any system of bending
       forces. --Rankine.
{Elastic fluids}, those which have the property of expanding
   in all directions on the removal of external pressure, as
   the air, steam, and other gases and vapors.
{Elastic limit} (Mech.), the limit of distortion, by bending,
   stretching, etc., that a body can undergo and yet return
   to its original form when relieved from stress; also, the
   unit force or stress required to produce this distortion.
   Within the elastic limit the distortion is directly
   proportional to the stress producing it.
{Elastic tissue} (Anat.), a variety of connective tissue
   consisting of a network of slender and very elastic fibers
   which are but slightly affected by acids or alkalies.
{Gum elastic}, caoutchouc.

\E*las"tic\, n.
An elastic woven fabric, as a belt, braces or suspenders,
etc., made in part of India rubber. [Colloq.]