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5 DESCRIBING QUALITIES OF MATERIALS

VOCABULARY
BRITTLE having hardness and rigidity but little tensile strength; breaking
readily with a comparatively smooth fracture, as glass; easily
damaged or destroyed; fragile.

CONDUCTOR a substance, body, or device that readily conducts heat,

electricity, sound, etc.

DUCTILE capable of being hammered out thin, as certain metals;

malleable; able to undergo change of form without breaking;
capable of being molded or shaped.

ELASTIC capable of recovering size and shape after deformation.

FLEXIBLE capable of being bent, usually without breaking; pliable.

FLIMSY lacking in physical strength or substance.

FRAGILE easily broken, shattered, or damaged; delicate; brittle.

HARD not easily penetrated; not easily yielding to pressure.

INSULATOR a material that is a poor conductor (as of electricity or heat).

MALLEABLE capable of being extended or shaped by hammering or by

pressure from rollers.

PLIABLE easily bent; flexible.

OILY covered or impregnated with oil.

RESILIENT capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation

or rupture.

RIGID stiff or unyielding; not pliant or flexible; hard.

SOFT changing shape easily when pressed; not stiff or firm; less hard
than average.

STIFF not easily bent, lacking in flexibility, rigid.

STRONG able to resist strain, force, wear, etc.

TOUGH strong or firm in texture but flexible and not brittle.

WEAK lacking strength; not able to resist external force.