mechanical

[muh-kan-i-kuhl]

adjective

1. having to do with machinery.

   a mechanical failure.

2. being a machine; operated by machinery.

   a mechanical toy.

3. caused by or derived from machinery.

   mechanical propulsion.

4. using machine parts only.

5. brought about by friction, abrasion, etc..

   a mechanical bond between stones; mechanical erosion.

6. pertaining to the design, use, understanding, etc., of tools and machinery.

   the mechanical trades; mechanical ability.

7. acting or performed without spontaneity, spirit, individuality, etc..

   a mechanical performance.

8. habitual; routine; automatic.

   Practice that step until it becomes mechanical.

9. belonging or pertaining to the subject matter of mechanics. mechanics.

10. pertaining to, or controlled or effected by, physical forces.

11. (of a philosopher or philosophical theory) explaining phenomena as due to mechanical action or the material forces of the universe.

12. subordinating the spiritual to the material; materialistic.

noun

1. a mechanical object, part, device, etc.

2. Printing.,  a sheet of stiff paper on which has been pasted artwork and type proofs for making a printing plate; paste-up.

3. Obsolete.,  a skilled manual laborer, as a carpenter or other artisan.

mechanical

/ mɪˈkænɪkəl /

adjective

1. made, performed, or operated by or as if by a machine or machinery

   a mechanical process

2. concerned with machines or machinery

3. relating to or controlled or operated by physical forces

4. of or concerned with mechanics

5. (of a gesture, etc) automatic; lacking thought, feeling, etc

6. philosophy accounting for phenomena by physically determining forces

7. (of paper, such as newsprint) made from pulp that has been mechanically ground and contains impurities

noun

1. printing another name for camera-ready copy

2. archaic,  another word for mechanic

Other Word Forms

• mechanically adverb
• mechanicalness noun
• mechanicalism noun
• mechanicality noun
• nonmechanical adjective
• nonmechanically adverb
• nonmechanicalness noun
• quasi-mechanical adjective
• quasi-mechanically adverb
• semimechanical adjective
• supermechanical adjective
• supermechanically adverb
• unmechanical adjective
• unmechanically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mechanical¹

1375–1425; late Middle English, equivalent to mechanic mechanical + -al ¹; mechanic

Example Sentences

Between injuries, slumps, defensive miscues and mechanical swing flaws, Hernández has endured one of his worst career seasons.

From Los Angeles Times

Summers and Copeland argue that they should be paid for both of these categories, while Sting says their agreement only covers mechanical royalties.

From BBC

When pressed on his struggles, Smith pointed to mechanical flaws he was trying to iron out.

From Los Angeles Times

Hostess specified that an investigation into the problem revealed a mechanical issue with a piece of equipment that “created conditions that could support the development of mold in the product prior to the expiration date.”

From Salon

Greyhound racing is defined by setting greyhounds to run around a track in pursuit of a lure activated by mechanical means.

From BBC

Related Words

• automated www.thesaurus.com
• automatic