Plasticine

//ˈplæs.tɪ.siːn// noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Modeling clay. countable, uncountable

    "Models; how to make paper pulp models; salt and flour models; sand models; plasticine models; chalk and pencil models."

  2. 2
    A brand of modelling clay, a putty-like modelling material made from calcium salts, petroleum jelly and fatty acids.
  3. 3
    a synthetic material resembling clay but remaining soft; used as a substitute for clay or wax in modeling (especially in schools) wordnet

Example

More examples

"In the plant cell model that Mario presented, a horse chestnut took the place of the nucleus, a handful of plasticine was the cytoplasm, the organelles were represented by lentils and other beans, small bits of green pipe cleaner served as chloroplasts, and the plastic bottle that held everything was the cell membrane, surrounded by a thick papier-mâché coat for the cell wall."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Genericized trademark from the brand name Plasticine.

Etymology 2

From plastic + -ine?

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.