Able to be stretched or pulled into thin wires without breaking; describes metals and materials that can be shaped through drawing or stretching.
From Latin 'ductilis' (able to be led or drawn), derived from 'ducere' (to lead). The term entered English in the 17th century through scientific and metallurgical writing.
Ductile is why metals are metals—the atomic structure allows atoms to slide past each other without breaking bonds, which is completely different from brittle materials where atoms lock in place and shatter when stressed.
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