mechanical

American  

[muh-kan-i-kuhl] / məˈkæn ɪ kəl /

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 British  

/ 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

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

Etymology

Origin of mechanical

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

Example Sentences

When the researchers printed the alloy and put it through mechanical testing, the results matched their predictions.

From Science Daily

In particular, the study reshapes the understanding of how cobalt and manganese influence mechanical failure inside batteries.

From Science Daily

They are often caused by speeding or mechanical failure.

From Barron's

On Tuesday, the U.S. auto safety regulator opened an investigation into the mechanical door release on the 2022 Tesla Model 3.

From Barron's

A U.S. auto safety regulator is investigating the 2022 Tesla Model 3’s mechanical door release due to emergency concerns.

From Barron's

Related Words

• automated
• automatic