pneumatic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to air, gases, or wind.
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of or relating to pneumatics.
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operated by air or by the pressure or exhaustion of air.
a pneumatic drill.
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filled with or containing compressed air, as a tire.
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equipped with pneumatic tires.
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Theology. of or relating to the spirit; spiritual.
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Zoology. containing air or air cavities.
noun
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a pneumatic tire.
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a vehicle having wheels with such tires.
adjective
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of or concerned with air, gases, or wind Compare hydraulic
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(of a machine or device) operated by compressed air or by a vacuum
a pneumatic drill
pneumatic brakes
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containing compressed air
a pneumatic tyre
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of or concerned with pneumatics
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theol
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of or relating to the soul or spirit
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of or relating to the Holy Ghost or other spiritual beings
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(of the bones of birds) containing air spaces which reduce their weight as an adaptation to flying
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informal (of a woman) well rounded, esp with a large bosom
noun
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Relating to gases, especially air.
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Filled with or operated by compressed air. Pneumatic machines often involve the transmission of force through air pressure in pipes or tubes.
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See also hydraulic
Usage
What does pneumatic mean? Pneumatic means filled with or operated by compressed air. In general, pneumatic means related to air or wind, and pneumatics is the branch of physics that deals with the properties of air. But the adjective pneumatic is most commonly applied to machines that work by using compressed air or a vacuum, like pneumatic brakes or a pneumatic drill (also called a jackhammer). Example: The bank uses a pneumatic tube so you can deposit your checks without going in.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of pneumatic
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
Explanation
Pneumatic means "related to air or gas." If you've ever gone to a drive-through bank where you put your deposit in a container that gets shot through a tube into the bank, by a blast of air, then you've used a pneumatic tube. When you pronounce pneumatic, keep the "p" silent. It comes from a Greek word meaning "air" and "breath." In some cases people call spiritual things pneumatic. In engineering, when something is described as pneumatic, it usually uses air pressure to move things around, like pneumatic tubes or compressors. For instance, when you press the nozzle on a whipped cream can, gas under pressure pushes the cream out quickly, making it fluffy and light.
Vocabulary lists containing pneumatic
National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 2
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"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 1
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Artemis Fowl
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Preakness has always been the goal for Pneumatic since he captured the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park in August.
From Washington Post • Sep. 28, 2020
The short-lived Beach Pneumatic Transit system used compressed air to move a carriage along a 95-metre tunnel in Manhattan between 1870 and 1873.
From The Guardian • Oct. 22, 2017
Among them, a Chicago Pneumatic brand power drill going for $182.99, an apparent steep discount from its list price of $305.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2017
Eichenberg of Mount Lebanon, Pa. Art dealers said it was later owned by Chicago Pneumatic and Dresser Industries, makers of rivet guns and drills, and S. B.
From New York Times • Apr. 24, 2015
The Pneumatic Tyre Company, with a capital of four millions sterling, when in full swing, turns out twenty-five thousand tyres per week.
From The Romance of Industry and Invention by Cochrane, Robert
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
