thermoplastic

T1H4E1R1M3O1P3L1A1S1T1I1C3
/ˈθɜː(ɹ)məˌplæstɪk/

adjective

Softening when heated and hardening when cooled, and thus able to be moulded, remelted, and remoulded.

Similar
thermoplastic resin
Opposite
thermosetting
OriginEnglish plastic ← Latin plasticus ← Ancient Greek πλᾰστῐκός (plăstĭkós) →
Less commonScrabble 22
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Meanings

adjectivethermoplastic (not comparable)
  1. not comparableSoftening when heated and hardening when cooled, and thus able to be moulded, remelted, and remoulded.
nounthermoplastic (usually uncountable, plural thermoplastics)

plural thermoplastics

  1. uncountableusuallyA plastic with this property.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivehaving the property of softening or fusing when heated and of hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled

Opposite
thermosetting

nouna material that softens when heated and hardens again when cooled

Similar
thermoplastic resin
Broader
plastic
Also see
thermomoldablethermoplastic resin

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*gʷʰer-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*gʷʰermos
  3. Proto-Hellenic*kʷʰermós
  4. Ancient Greekθερμός (thermós)
  5. Englishthermo-
  6. Proto-Hellenic*plátʰyō
  7. Proto-Hellenic*plát͏̌t͏̌ō?
  8. Ancient Greekπλάσσω (plássō)
  9. Ancient Greekπλᾰστῐκός (plăstĭkós)
  10. Latinplasticus
  11. Englishplastic
  12. Englishthermoplastic

From thermo- + plastic.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan termoplàstic
  • termoplàsticsoftening when heated
Chinese Mandarin 熱塑性的 /热塑性的, 熱塑性塑料 /热塑性塑料
  • 熱塑性的 /热塑性的 (rèsùxìng de)softening when heated
  • 熱塑性塑料 /热塑性塑料 (rèsùxìng sùliào)plastic with this property
Czech termoplast
  • termoplastplastic with this property
Dutch thermoplastisch, thermoplast
  • thermoplastischsoftening when heated
  • thermoplastplastic with this property
Finnish lämpömuovattava, termoplastinen
  • lämpömuovattavasoftening when heated
  • termoplastinensoftening when heated
  • kestomuoviplastic with this property
French thermoplastique, thermoplastique
  • thermoplastiquesoftening when heated
  • thermoplastiqueplastic with this property
German thermoplastisch, Thermoplast
  • thermoplastischsoftening when heated
  • Thermoplastplastic with this property
Greek θερμοπλαστικός
  • θερμοπλαστικός (thermoplastikós)softening when heated
Hungarian hőre lágyuló, hőre lágyuló műanyag
  • hőre lágyulósoftening when heated
  • hőre lágyuló műanyagplastic with this property
Irish teirmeaplaisteach
  • teirmeaplaisteachsoftening when heated
Māori rewarau, kirihou rewarau
  • rewarausoftening when heated
  • kirihou rewarauplastic with this property
  • parateke rewarauplastic with this property
Portuguese termoplástico
  • termoplásticosoftening when heated
Romanian termoplastic
  • termoplasticsoftening when heated
Spanish termoplástico, termoplástico
  • termoplásticosoftening when heated
  • termoplásticoplastic with this property
Swedish termoplast
  • termoplastplastic with this property
Welsh thermoplastig, thermoplastig
  • thermoplastigsoftening when heated
  • thermoplastigplastic with this property

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with thermoplastic

fantasticelasticenthusiasticstochasticdrasticsarcasticantineoplasticmonasticinelasticgymnasticmasticviscoelasticdynasticbombasticaplasticanaplasticiconoclasticclasticpyroclastictrophoblasticdysplasticecclesiasticorgiasticunenthusiastic
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

thermoplastic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thermoplastic

MLA

“thermoplastic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thermoplastic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “thermoplastic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thermoplastic.

Source: thermoplastic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.