pneumatic

[ noo-mat-ik, nyoo- ]
See synonyms for pneumatic on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of or relating to air, gases, or wind.

  2. of or relating to pneumatics.

  1. operated by air or by the pressure or exhaustion of air: a pneumatic drill.

  2. filled with or containing compressed air, as a tire.

  3. equipped with pneumatic tires.

  4. Theology. of or relating to the spirit; spiritual.

  5. Zoology. containing air or air cavities.

noun
  1. a pneumatic tire.

  2. a vehicle having wheels with such tires.

Origin of pneumatic

1
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin pneumaticus “pertaining to air; powered by wind or air,” from Greek pneumatikós “pertaining to air, breath or wind; powered by wind or air; spiritual,” equivalent to pneumat- (stem of pneûma) + -ikos; see origin at pneuma,-ic

Other words from pneumatic

  • pneu·mat·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • pneu·ma·tic·i·ty [noo-muh-tis-i-tee, nyoo-], /ˌnu məˈtɪs ɪ ti, ˌnyu-/, noun
  • non·pneu·mat·ic, adjective
  • non·pneu·mat·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • sem·i·pneu·mat·ic, adjective
  • un·pneu·mat·ic, adjective
  • un·pneu·mat·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby pneumatic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pneumatic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pneumatic

pneumatic

/ (njʊˈmætɪk) /


adjective
  1. of or concerned with air, gases, or wind: Compare hydraulic

  2. (of a machine or device) operated by compressed air or by a vacuum: a pneumatic drill; pneumatic brakes

  1. containing compressed air: a pneumatic tyre

  2. of or concerned with pneumatics

  3. theol

    • of or relating to the soul or spirit

    • of or relating to the Holy Ghost or other spiritual beings

  4. (of the bones of birds) containing air spaces which reduce their weight as an adaptation to flying

  5. informal (of a woman) well rounded, esp with a large bosom

noun
  1. short for pneumatic tyre

Origin of pneumatic

1
C17: from Late Latin pneumaticus of air or wind, from Greek pneumatikos of air or breath, from pneuma

Derived forms of pneumatic

  • pneumatically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for pneumatic

pneumatic

[ nōō-mătĭk ]


  1. Relating to gases, especially air.

  2. Filled with or operated by compressed air. Pneumatic machines often involve the transmission of force through air pressure in pipes or tubes. See also hydraulic.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.