MECHANICAL


Meaning of MECHANICAL in English

I. mi-ˈka-ni-kəl adjective

Date: 15th century

1.

a.

(1) : of or relating to machinery or tools

mechanical applications of science

a mechanical genius

mechanical aptitude

(2) : produced or operated by a machine or tool

mechanical power

a mechanical refrigerator

a mechanical saw

b. : of or relating to manual operations

2. : of or relating to artisans or machinists

the mechanical trades

3.

a. : done as if by machine : seemingly uninfluenced by the mind or emotions : automatic

her singing was cold and mechanical

b. : of or relating to technicalities or petty matters

4.

a. : relating to, governed by, or in accordance with the principles of mechanics

mechanical work

mechanical energy

b. : relating to the quantitative relations of force and matter

mechanical pressure of wind on a tower

5. : caused by, resulting from, or relating to a process that involves a purely physical as opposed to a chemical or biological change or process

mechanical erosion of rock

Synonyms: see spontaneous

• me·chan·i·cal·ly -ni-k(ə-)lē adverb

II. noun

Date: 1600

1. obsolete : mechanic 1

2. : a piece of finished copy consisting typically of type proofs and artwork positioned and mounted for photomechanical reproduction

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.