mechanical

[muh-kan-i-kuh l] /məˈkæn ɪ kəl/
adjective
1.
having to do with machinery:
a mechanical failure.
2.
being a machine; operated by machinery:
a mechanical toy.
3.
caused by or derived from machinery:
mechanical propulsion.
4.
using machine parts only.
5.
brought about by friction, abrasion, etc.:
a mechanical bond between stones; mechanical erosion.
6.
pertaining to the design, use, understanding, etc., of tools and machinery:
the mechanical trades; mechanical ability.
7.
acting or performed without spontaneity, spirit, individuality, etc.:
a mechanical performance.
8.
habitual; routine; automatic:
Practice that step until it becomes mechanical.
9.
belonging or pertaining to the subject matter of mechanics.
10.
pertaining to, or controlled or effected by, physical forces.
11.
(of a philosopher or philosophical theory) explaining phenomena as due to mechanical action or the material forces of the universe.
12.
subordinating the spiritual to the material; materialistic.
noun
13.
a mechanical object, part, device, etc.
14.
Printing. a sheet of stiff paper on which has been pasted artwork and type proofs for making a printing plate; paste-up.
15.
Obsolete. a skilled manual laborer, as a carpenter or other artisan.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English, equivalent to mechanic mechanical + -al1; see mechanic
Related forms
mechanically, adverb
mechanicalness, mechanicality, noun
nonmechanical, adjective
nonmechanically, adverb
nonmechanicalness, noun
quasi-mechanical, adjective
quasi-mechanically, adverb
semimechanical, adjective
supermechanical, adjective
supermechanically, adverb
unmechanical, adjective
unmechanically, adverb
Examples from the web for mechanical
  • The machine is designed to mimic the calming effect of a cow's holding pen by giving her a mechanical hug.
  • Howe's machine faded out the mechanical process of sewing and reduced the amount of time it took to create clothing.
  • One of the five mechanical cranes has delivered up the bin to a small loading dock.
  • By all accounts, the battlefield of the future could resemble nothing more than a swarm of mechanical locusts.
  • Weathering is the mechanical and chemical hammer that breaks down and sculpts the rocks.
  • At this temperature, the paddle slipped into its quantum mechanical ground state.
  • Approaching the building a muffled thwack-thwack-thwack mechanical sound created by power looms can be heard.
  • The simple two-cycle kinds have more efficient engines and require less mechanical know-how to stay in running order.
  • mechanical removal also leaves the problem of disposing of the removed plants.
  • It then determines what the monkey is trying to do and translates it into movement of the mechanical arm.
British Dictionary definitions for mechanical

mechanical

/mɪˈkænɪkəl/
adjective
1.
made, performed, or operated by or as if by a machine or machinery: a mechanical process
2.
concerned with machines or machinery
3.
relating to or controlled or operated by physical forces
4.
of or concerned with mechanics
5.
(of a gesture, etc) automatic; lacking thought, feeling, etc
6.
(philosophy) accounting for phenomena by physically determining forces
7.
(of paper, such as newsprint) made from pulp that has been mechanically ground and contains impurities
noun
8.
(printing) another name for camera-ready copy
9.
(archaic) another word for mechanic (sense 2)
Derived Forms
mechanicalism, noun
mechanically, adverb
mechanicalness, noun
Word Origin and History for mechanical
adj.

early 15c., "of or pertaining to machines," from mechanic (adj.) + -al (1); of persons or human actions, "resembling machines, automatic" it is from c.1600. Related: Mechanically. Mechanical-minded is recorded from 1820.

mechanical in Medicine

mechanical me·chan·i·cal (mĭ-kān'ĭ-kəl)
adj.

  1. Operated or produced by a mechanism or machine.

  2. Relating to, produced by, or dominated by physical forces.

  3. Interpreting and explaining the phenomena of the universe by referring to causally determined material forces; mechanistic.