Thermoforms

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A process involving the shaping of plastic materials when heated, allowing them to be molded into specific forms
2. This method permits the alteration of a material’s shape through the application of heat and pressure
3. The technique is employed in various industries for creating custom shapes and designs using thermoplastic materials

Etymology: "Thermoforms" is the third-person singular form of "thermoform," a verb meaning to shape a sheet of plastic by heating it until it softens and then pressing or vacuum-drawing it over a mold. The verb is a compound built from "thermo-," from Ancient Greek "thermos," meaning "hot," and the English word "form." The Greek root goes back through Proto-Hellenic to a Proto-Indo-European base that also gave rise to words for heat and warmth in other languages. The Greek "thermos" is the same root that gives English "thermal," "thermometer," and "thermostat," so the word belongs to a large family of heat-related terms. Its meaning stays literal here: the heat is the essential step, since plastic must reach a softened state before it can take the shape of the mold. The noun "thermoform," meaning the shaped plastic product itself, is formed from the same parts, so the word moves easily between verb and noun use.

Synonyms: molds, shapes, molds thermoplastics, thermoforming shapes