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A medium of great elasticity and extreme tenuity, supposed to pervade all space, the interior of solid bodies not excepted, and to be the medium of transmission of light and heat; hence often called luminiferous ether.

A hoop skirt or hoop petticoat, or other light, elastic material, used to extend the petticoat. We'll revel it as bravely as the best, . . . With ruffs and cuffs, and farthingales and things. Shak.

To snap; to project quickly. The use of the elastic switch to fillip small missiles with. Tylor.

To enervate; to exhaust the vigor or elasticity of. Nothing so flags the spirits. Echard.

or resulting from, flexure; of the nature of, or characterized by, flexure; as, flexural elasticity.

hemists as synonymous with air, but since restricted to fluids supposed to be permanently elastic, as oxygen, hydrogen, etc., in distinction from vapors, as steam, which become liquid on a reduction of temperature. In present usage, since all of the supposed permanent gases have been liquified by cold and pressure, the…

of measuring gases; also, the science which treats of the nature and properties of these elastic fluids. Coxe.

eight of the tides. -- Vacuum gauge, a species of barometer for determining the relative elasticities of the vapor in the condenser of a steam engine and the air. -- Water gauge. (a) A contrivance for indicating the height of a water surface, as in a steam boiler; as by a gauge cock or glass. (b) The height of the wa…

transparency, a bluish or greenish tinge of the refracting media of the eye, and a hard inelastic condition of the eyeball, with marked increase of tension within the eyeball.

in some solid material. Reproduction is accomplished by means of a system attached to an elastic diaphragm.

istus (Cistus ladaniferus), a species of rock rose.-- Gum dragon. See Tragacanth. -- Gum elastic, Elastic gum. See Caoutchouc. -- Gum elemi. See Elemi. -- Gum juniper. See Sandarac. -- Gum kino. See under Kino. -- Gum lac. See Lac. -- Gum Ladanum, a fragrant gum yielded by several Oriental species of Cistus or ro…

A circle, or combination of circles, of thin whalebone, metal, or other elastic material, used for expanding the skirts of ladies' dresses; crinoline; -- used chiefly in the plural. Though stiff with hoops, and armed with ribs of whale. Pope.

es to fluids, or, as usually limited, which treats of the laws of motion and action of nonelastic fluids, whether as investigated mathematically, or by observation and experiment; the principles of dynamics, as applied to water and other fluids.

A variety of potash mica containing water. It is less elastic than ordinary muscovite. Hydromica schist (Min.), a mica schist characterized by the presence of hydromica. It often has a silky luster and almost soapy feel.

The branch of science which relates to the pressure and equilibrium of nonelastic fluids, as water, mercury, etc.; the principles of statics applied to water and other liquids.

of plants, several species of which have very beautiful flowers; -- so called because the elastic capsules burst when touched, and scatter the seeds with considerable force. Called also touch-me-not, jewelweed, and snapweed. I. Balsamina (sometimes called lady's slipper) is the common garden balsam.…

interval of time; the effect of such action; as, the impulse of a sudden blow upon a hard elastic body.

ia-rubber tree (Bot.), any tree yielding caoutchouc, but especially the East Indian Ficus elastica, often cultivated for its large, shining, elliptical leaves.

Not ductile; incapable of being drawn into threads, as a metal; inelastic; tough.

Not capable of being extended; not elastic; as, inextensible fibers.