The elastic limit is the maximum amount of stress or force that a material can withstand while still returning to its original shape once the stress is removed. When a material is stretched or compressed within this limit, it behaves elastically, meaning it can recover its initial form without any permanent deformation. If the applied stress exceeds the elastic limit, the material will undergo plastic deformation, which means it will not return to its original shape. This concept is important in fields like engineering and materials science, where understanding the limits of materials, such as metals or plastics, is crucial for designing safe and effective structures.