flexible

flexible
/flek"seuh beuhl/, adj.
1. capable of being bent, usually without breaking; easily bent: a flexible ruler.
2. susceptible of modification or adaptation; adaptable: a flexible schedule.
3. willing or disposed to yield; pliable: a flexible personality.
n.
4. a flexible substance or material, as rubber or leather.
[1375-1425; late ME < L flexibilis pliant, easily bent. See FLEX1, -IBLE]
Syn. 1. pliable, elastic, supple. FLEXIBLE, LIMBER, PLIANT refer to that which bends easily. FLEXIBLE refers to that which is capable of being bent and adds sometimes the idea of compressibility or expansibility: a flexible piece of rubber hose. LIMBER is esp. applied to the body to refer to ease of movement; it resembles FLEXIBLE except that there is an idea of even greater ease in bending: a limber dancer. PLIANT stresses an inherent quality or tendency to bend that does not require force or pressure from the outside; it may mean merely adaptable or may have a derogatory sense: a pliant character. 2. tractable, compliant.
Ant. 1. stiff. 2. rigid.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • flexible — [ flɛksibl ] adj. • 1314; lat. flexibilis, de flexus, p. p. de flectere → fléchir 1 ♦ Qui se laisse courber, plier. ⇒ élastique, pliable, souple. Jonc, roseau flexible. Lame d acier flexible. Cou flexible. Rendre flexible. ⇒ assouplir. Une femme… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • flexible — flex‧i‧ble [ˈfleksbl] adjective 1. a person, plan etc that is flexible can change or be changed easily to suit any new situation: • flexible investment opportunities • More firms are offering flexible benefits (= extra money or other advantages …   Financial and business terms

  • flexible — adjetivo 1. (ser / estar) Que puede doblarse fácilmente sin romperse: Últimamente estoy muy flexible porque hago mucha gimnasia. Este material es muy flexible. Tiene el cuello muy flexible. 2. (antepuesto / pospuesto) Que se acomoda o cede con… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • flexible — adj. de t. g. Souple. Qui est ployant, qui est aisé à ployer. Il n y a rien de plus flexible que l ozier. On dit qu Un homme a la voix flexible, pour dire, qu Il a la voix souple & aisée, ensorte qu il passe facilement d un ton à un autre.… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Flexible — Flex i*ble, a. [L. flexibilis: cf. F. flexible.] 1. Capable of being flexed or bent; admitting of being turned, bowed, or twisted, without breaking; pliable; yielding to pressure; not stiff or brittle. [1913 Webster] When the splitting wind Makes …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • flexible — (Del lat. flexibĭlis). 1. adj. Que tiene disposición para doblarse fácilmente. 2. Que en un enfrentamiento se pliega con facilidad a la opinión, a la voluntad o a la actitud de otro o de otros. Carácter, persona flexible. 3. Que no se sujeta a… …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • flexible — early 15c., from M.Fr. flexible or directly from L. flexibilis that may be bent, pliant, flexible, yielding; figuratively tractable, inconstant, from flexus, pp. of flectere to bend, of uncertain origin. Related: Flexibly …   Etymology dictionary

  • flexible — [adj1] pliable, bendable adjustable, bending, ductile, elastic, extensible, extensile, flexile, formable, formative, impressionable, like putty*, limber, lithe, malleable, moldable, plastic, pliant, soft, spongy, springy, stretch, stretchable,… …   New thesaurus

  • flexible — [flek′sə bəl] adj. [ME < OFr < L flexibilis < flexus: see FLEX1] 1. able to bend without breaking; not stiff or rigid; easily bent; pliant 2. easily persuaded or influenced; tractable 3. adjustable to change; capable of modification [a… …   English World dictionary

  • flexible — I adjective adaptable, adjustable, bendable, bending, capable of conforming to new situations, capable of responding to changing situations, disposed to yield, ductile, easily bent, easily managed, elastic, facilis, flexibilis, flexile, formable …   Law dictionary

  • flexible — work …   Dictionary of sociology

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