Ductile
[DUCK-tl]
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Latin, 14th century
1.
(Of a metal) Able to be drawn out into a thin wire.
2.
Able to be deformed without losing toughness; pliable, not brittle.
Examples of Ductile in a sentence
"Copper is quite ductile, which makes it perfect for both electrical work and jewelry."
"The drafty window sill needs to be repaired with a ductile material to stand up to the winter winds."
About Ductile
The adjective "ductile" comes from the Latin root "ductilis," which means "easily led." A person may not be described as ductile, but ductile metal is easily drawn out into a thin wire.
Did you Know?
Ductile can be used in a few different ways, but they all apply to physical materials. Any sort of pliable, malleable material that can be molded can be called "ductile." It's tough and sturdy, but still capable of taking on a different shape. But if the material is metal, "ductile" specifically refers to the capability to draw it out into a long, thin wire.
