[me.chan.i.cal] adj (15c) 1 a (1): of or relating to machinery or tools "~ applications of science" "a ~ genius" "~ aptitude" (2): produced or operated by a machine or tool "~ power" "a ~ refrigerator" "a ~ saw" b: of or relating to manual operations
2: of or relating to artisans or machinists "the ~ trades" 3 a: done as if by machine: seemingly uninfluenced by the mind or emotions: automatic "her singing was cold and ~" b: of or relating to technicalities or petty matters
4. a: relating to, governed by, or in accordance with the principles of mechanics "~ work" "~ energy" b: relating to the quantitative relations of force and matter "~ 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 change "~ erosion of rock" syn see spontaneous -- me.chan.i.cal.ly adv
[2]mechanical n (1590) 1 obs: mechanic 1
2: a piece of finished copy consisting typically of type proofs and artwork positioned and mounted for photomechanical reproduction