pneumatic

[ noo-mat-ik, nyoo- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to air, gases, or wind.
2. of or relating to pneumatics.
3. operated by air or by the pressure or exhaustion of air:

   a pneumatic drill.

4. filled with or containing compressed air, as a tire.
5. equipped with pneumatic tires.
6. Theology. of or relating to the spirit; spiritual.
7. Zoology. containing air or air cavities.

noun

1. a pneumatic tire.
2. a vehicle having wheels with such tires.

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

   pneumatic brakes

   a pneumatic drill

3. containing compressed air

   a pneumatic tyre

4. of or concerned with pneumatics
5. theol
   1. of or relating to the soul or spirit
   2. of or relating to the Holy Ghost or other spiritual beings
6. (of the bones of birds) containing air spaces which reduce their weight as an adaptation to flying
7. informal.
   (of a woman) well rounded, esp with a large bosom

noun

1. short for pneumatic tyre

pneumatic

/ no̅o̅-măt′ĭk /

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.
3. See also hydraulic

Derived Forms

• pneuˈmatically, adverb

Other Words From

• pneu·mati·cal·ly adverb
• pneu·ma·tic·i·ty [noo-m, uh, -, tis, -i-tee, nyoo-], 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pneumatic¹

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; pneuma, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of pneumatic¹

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

Example Sentences

It wasn’t easy: The half-ton compressor needed to drive the team’s large pneumatic drill was too heavy for their helicopter.

From Science Magazine

They began carefully removing dirt using a vacuum and pneumatic knives, Scott said.

From Los Angeles Times

Back at Cooper’s dino-shop, work began to clean and reassemble the stegosaurus, with equipment including sand-blasting jets, pneumatic chisels and powerful microscopes.

From BBC

In collaboration with the University of Tokyo and Bridgestone Corporation, Kyoto University has now developed a method to control pneumatic artificial muscles, which are soft robotic actuators.

From Science Daily

Research team at the University of Freiburg develops 3D-printed pneumatic logic modules that control the movements of soft robots using only air pressure.

From Science Daily

More About Pneumatic

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.

Where does pneumatic come from?

The first records of pneumatic come from the 1600s. It comes from the Latin pneumaticus, which is from the Greek pneumatikós, meaning “air,” “breath,” or “spirit.” The root pneum- and similar roots are used in words related to wind or the lungs, such as pneumonia.

Machines that are powered by air are sometimes labeled air-powered, but devices called pneumatic usually work with compressed air. Such machines typically work by transmission force through air pressure in pipes or tubes. For example, pneumatic tubes were once popular for transporting document-filled containers throughout a building. In this system, things like mail, checks, and other small objects could be sent quickly from one part of an office building to another by placing the item in a container and then placing the container inside the tube, where it would be whisked away by the power of air. Car tires and bicycle tires are sometimes called pneumatic tires because they’re filled with compressed air.

Machines and systems that operate through the pressure created by water or another liquid are called hydraulic. A machine that uses a combination of pneumatic and hydraulic power is called pneudraulic.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to pneumatic?

• pneumatically (adverb)
• pneumaticity (noun)
• nonpneumatic (adjective)
• nonpneumatically (adverb)

What are some synonyms for pneumatic?

• air-powered

What are some words that share a root or word element with pneumatic? 

 

• pneumonia
• pneudraulic
• pneuma

What are some words that often get used in discussing pneumatic?

• air
• wind
• gas
• tube
• tire
• pressure
• mechanism
• valve

How is pneumatic used in real life?

Pneumatic is almost always used in a mechanical sense, the same as one would discuss hydraulics or pulley systems. The spiritual use will be used in deeply thought out theological discussion.

Back in London! Trying to imagine the traffic noises are ocean waves and the pneumatic drill is a particularly energetic seagull

— Phil Lester (@AmazingPhil) June 24, 2015

Ok BUT HOW COOL ARE THE LITTLE SUCKY-UPPY THINGS AT BANKS? PNEUMATIC TUBES?? Science can be so freakin neat.

— Thomas Sanders (@ThomasSanders) December 13, 2017

Is there any reason pneumatic tires can’t be used for space exploration? or are they just not used for weight reasons? after all the shuttle had pneumatic tires in a vacuum, they just weren’t used there

— ‏Andrew Cassidy (@AndrewNCassidy) September 24, 2019

 

 

Try using pneumatic!

Is pneumatic used correctly in the following sentence?

I can barely hear myself think over the sound of the pneumatic drill.