ductile

[ duhk-tl, -til ]

adjective

1. capable of being hammered out thin, as certain metals; malleable.
2. capable of being drawn out into wire or threads, as gold.
3. able to undergo change of form without breaking.
4. capable of being molded or shaped; plastic.

ductile

/ dʌkˈtɪlɪtɪ; ˈdʌktaɪl /

adjective

1. (of a metal, such as gold or copper) able to be drawn out into wire
2. able to be moulded; pliant; plastic
3. easily led or influenced; tractable

ductile

/ dŭk′təl /

1. Easily stretched without breaking or lowering in material strength. Gold is relatively ductile at room temperature, and most metals become more ductile with increasing temperature.
2. Compare brittle
3. Relating to rock or other materials that are capable of withstanding a certain amount of force by changing form before fracturing or breaking.

Derived Forms

• ductility, noun
• ˈductilely, adverb

Other Words From

• duc·tile·ly adverb
• duc·til·i·ty [duhk-, til, -i-tee], duc·tile·ness noun
• non·duc·tile adjective
• sem·i·duc·tile adjective
• un·duc·tile adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ductile¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin ductilis, equivalent to duct(us) (past participle of dūcere “to draw along”) + -ilis adjective suffix ( -ile )

Word History and Origins

Origin of ductile¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin ductilis, from dūcere to lead

Example Sentences

Other kinds of lava are much more ductile and viscous, and coagulate superficially in glossy or wrinkled crusts.

From Project Gutenberg

Consider the vigour, popularity, pleasantness of an art of coinage thus ductile to events, and easy in manipulution.

From Project Gutenberg

Copper is very malleable and ductile when cold, and in this state may be easily worked under the hammer.

From Project Gutenberg

It forms a metal with high tensile strength while being ductile and malleable.

From Project Gutenberg

The most ductile and tenacious soft iron, free from all blemishes, must be selected for this slip.

From Project Gutenberg