pneumatic

[ noo-mat-ik, nyoo- ]

/ nʊˈmæt ɪk, nyʊ- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pneumatic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to air, gases, or wind.

of or relating to pneumatics.

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

filled with or containing compressed air, as a tire.

equipped with pneumatic tires.

Theology. of or relating to the spirit; spiritual.

Zoology. containing air or air cavities.

noun

a pneumatic tire.

a vehicle having wheels with such tires.

Nearby words

pneum., pneuma, pneumarthrogram, pneumarthrography, pneumarthrosis, pneumatic, pneumatic bone, pneumatic conveyor, pneumatic duct, pneumatic pile, pneumatic trough

Origin of pneumatic

1650–60; < Latin pneumaticus < Greek pneumatikós pertaining to air, breath or wind, spiritual, equivalent to pneumat- (stem of pneûma; see pneuma) + -ikos -ic

Related forms

pneu·mat·i·cal·ly, adverbpneu·ma·tic·i·ty

[noo-muh-tis-i-tee, nyoo-] /ˌnu məˈtɪs ɪ ti, ˌnyu-/, nounnon·pneu·mat·ic, adjectivenon·pneu·mat·i·cal·ly, adverb

sem·i·pneu·mat·ic, adjectiveun·pneu·mat·ic, adjectiveun·pneu·mat·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pneumatic

My current wife has no need for a jealous bone in her pneumatic body.
Charles Saatchi Answers Your Questions|The Daily Beast|May 31, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The "spring" of the air is evident to us in the pneumatic tire of the bicycle or automobile.
The Story of Great Inventions|Elmer Ellsworth Burns
A weighed amount of oxide of silver is placed in a glass tube connected with a pneumatic trough.
Scientific Culture, and Other Essays|Josiah Parsons Cooke
Within minutes the hole was empty of rock and the pneumatic drills were hammering again.
The Flaming Mountain|Harold Leland Goodwin

This shutter is opened, in the first instance, by pressure upon a bulb, p125 in the same manner as any of the pneumatic devices.
Photography in the Studio and in the Field|Edward M. Estabrooke
The aperture was opened and closed by a pneumatic shutter fastened to the back of the screen.
Harvard Psychological Studies, Volume 1|Various

British Dictionary definitions for pneumatic

pneumatic

/ (njʊˈmætɪk) /

adjective

of or concerned with air, gases, or windCompare hydraulic

(of a machine or device) operated by compressed air or by a vacuuma pneumatic drill; pneumatic brakes

containing compressed aira pneumatic tyre

of or concerned with pneumatics

theol

of or relating to the soul or spirit
of or relating to the Holy Ghost or other spiritual beings

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

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

noun

short for pneumatic tyre

Derived Forms

pneumatically, adverb

Word Origin for pneumatic

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

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

Medicine definitions for pneumatic

pneumatic

[ nōō-măt′ĭk ]

adj.

Of or relating to air or other gases.

Relating to respiration.

Relating to a structure that is filled with air.

Science definitions for pneumatic

pneumatic

[ nōō-măt′ĭk ]

Relating to gases, especially air.

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.