hydraulic
Americanadjective
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operated by, moved by, or employing water or other liquids in motion.
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operated by the pressure created by forcing water, oil, or another liquid through a comparatively narrow pipe or orifice.
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of or relating to water or other liquids in motion.
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of or relating to hydraulics.
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hardening under water, as a cement.
adjective
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operated by pressure transmitted through a pipe by a liquid, such as water or oil
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of, concerned with, or employing liquids in motion
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of or concerned with hydraulics
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hardening under water
hydraulic cement
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Operated by the pressure of water or other liquids. Hydraulic systems, such as hydraulic brakes, allow mechanical force to be transferred along curved paths (through pipes or tubes) that would be difficult for solid mechanisms, such as levers or cables, to negotiate efficiently.
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Relating to hydraulics.
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Capable of hardening under water, as cement.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hydraulic
1620–30; < Latin hydraulicus < Greek hydraulikós of a water organ. See hydraulus, -ic
Explanation
The adjective hydraulic refers to a process using pressurized water or other fluid to generate great mechanical power, without the wear and tear of gears or levers. Hydraulic systems are popular for use in heavy-duty machinery. It might seem odd that the original Greek word hydraulikós from which hydraulic comes referred to water (hydra) and also to a musical instrument made from a hollow tube (aulos). You might ask, "What's a musical instrument got to do with hydraulics?" Well, you can see the connection when you know that something that's hydraulic means it is operated through the pressure of water or liquid through a pipe or hose, easily generating great force (instead of music).
Vocabulary lists containing hydraulic
Elements of the Universe: Hydr, Hydro ("Water")
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2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2
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The Lost Hero
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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.
Some sites have seen well deformation and hydraulic failures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Hradecky suggests the RAT was, therefore, more likely triggered because both engines had already lost power and fallen below idle speed, rather than by a separate electrical or hydraulic failure.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
The passageway is accessed using a “sophisticated hydraulic lift” and extends from Otay Mesa, underneath the U.S.-Mexico border and into Tijuana.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026
US investigators say it has reinforced walls, rail and ventilation systems, an electricity supply, and was accessed using a hydraulic lift.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
It looked like a mechanic’s garage, with several hydraulic lifts.
From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan
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.
