The word lissome is an adjective used to describe something or someone that is flexible, supple, or graceful in movement. It comes from the Old French word lissier, meaning "to bend" or "to be pliable." Typically, lissome is used to refer to someone’s physical form, especially when they are agile, lithe, and able to move with ease and fluidity. The term suggests both elegance and flexibility, evoking a sense of smooth, flowing motion. In this sense, it can be applied to dancers, athletes, or anyone whose movements are graceful and effortless, almost as if they were "bending" in harmony with their surroundings.

Beyond physical grace, lissome can also be used to describe objects or materials that are pliable or easily shaped, like a flexible vine or a finely crafted piece of art. However, it is most often applied to people, emphasizing an aesthetic quality that combines both physical flexibility and a sense of poise. In literary or poetic contexts, the term lissome is often employed to evoke a sense of beauty, lightness, and fluidity in a person's movements or in the way something is shaped or formed.