ductile
UK: ˈdʌk.taɪl | US: ˈdʌk.təl
adj. capable of being stretched or drawn out without breaking
adj. easily molded or shaped; pliable
adj. (figuratively) easily influenced or persuaded
ductile = duct<lead> + ile<capable of>
- duct (from Latin ducere, meaning "to lead" or "to draw")
- ile (a suffix meaning "capable of" or "pertaining to," from Latin -ilis)
Etymology Origin:
The word ductile originates from Latin ductilis, derived from ducere ("to lead" or "to draw"). The core idea revolves around the ability of a material (like metal) to be "led" or stretched into thin wires without breaking. Over time, the meaning expanded metaphorically to describe malleability in both physical and abstract contexts (e.g., a ductile mind). The suffix -ile reinforces the sense of capability, making ductile literally mean "capable of being led or drawn out."
Gold is highly ductile and can be stretched into extremely thin wires.
The artist preferred ductile clay for sculpting intricate details.
His ductile personality made him easily swayed by others' opinions.
Copper's ductile properties make it ideal for electrical wiring.
The manager sought ductile employees who could adapt to rapid changes.