Elapse
(E*lapse") v. i. [imp. & p. p. Elapsed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Elapsing.] [L. elapsus, p. p. of elabi
to glide away; e out + labi to fall, slide. See Lapse.] To slip or glide away; to pass away silently, as
time; — used chiefly in reference to time.
Eight days elapsed; at length a pilgrim came.
Hoole. Elapsion
(E*lap"sion) n. The act of elapsing. [R.]
Elaqueate
(E*la"que*ate) v. t. [L. elaqueatus, p. p. of elaqueare to unfetter.] To disentangle. [R.]
Elasipoda
(||El`a*sip"o*da) n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. metal beaten out, metal plate + -poda.] (Zoöl.) An order
of holothurians mostly found in the deep sea. They are remarkable for their bilateral symmetry and curious
forms. [Written also Elasmopoda.]
Elasmobranch
(E*las"mo*branch) a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Elasmobranchii. — n. One of the
Elasmobranchii.
Elasmobranchiate
(E*las`mo*bran"chi*ate) a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to Elasmobranchii. — n. One of
the Elasmobranchii.
Elasmobranchii
(||E*las`mo*bran"chi*i) n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. a metal plate + L. branchia a gill.] (Zoöl.) A
subclass of fishes, comprising the sharks, the rays, and the Chimæra. The skeleton is mainly cartilaginous.
Elasmosaurus
(||E*las`mo*sau"rus) n. [NL., fr. Gr. a metal plate + a lizard.] (Paleon.) An extinct,
long-necked, marine, cretaceous reptile from Kansas, allied to Plesiosaurus.
Elastic
(E*las"tic) a. [Formed fr. Gr. to drive; prob. akin to L. alacer lively, brisk, and E. alacrity: cf. F. élastique.]
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.
Elastic
(E*las"tic), n. An elastic woven fabric, as a belt, braces or suspenders, etc., made in part of
India rubber. [Colloq.]
Elastical
(E*las"tic*al) a. Elastic. [R.] Bentley.
Elastically
(E*las"tic*al*ly), adv. In an elastic manner; by an elastic power; with a spring.
