plastic

Everyday

1. A light, strong material made in factories, often from oil, used for bottles, toys and bags. tree →
2. As an adjective, made of plastic: "a plastic cup". tree →
3. As an adjective, easy to bend and shape. tree →
4. (Informal) Credit or bank cards: "pay with plastic". tree →

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 →
• Plastic does not let electricity through. tree →
• Recycle your plastic bottles. tree →
• Plastic in the sea can hurt turtles. tree →
• Keep plastic bags away from babies. tree →
• Lego bricks are plastic. tree →
• Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down. tree →
• Use a reusable bag instead of a plastic one. tree →

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".