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mechanical

 - 4 dictionary results

me⋅chan⋅i⋅cal

[muh-kan-i-kuhl]
–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 ME, equiv. to mechanic mechanical + -al 1 ; see mechanic


me⋅chan⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
me⋅chan⋅i⋅cal⋅ness, me⋅chan⋅i⋅cal⋅i⋅ty, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To mechanical
me·chan·i·cal   (mĭ-kān'ĭ-kəl)   
adj.  
  1. Of or relating to machines or tools: mechanical skill.

  2. Operated or produced by a mechanism or machine: a mechanical toy dog.

  3. Of, relating to, or governed by mechanics.

  4. Performed or performing in an impersonal or machinelike manner; automatic: a droning, mechanical delivery of the speech.

  5. Relating to, produced by, or dominated by physical forces: the mechanical aspect of trumpet playing.

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

  7. Of or relating to manual labor, its tools, and its skills.

n.   Printing
A layout consisting of type proofs, artwork, or both, exactly positioned and prepared for making an offset or other printing plate.
me·chan'i·cal·ly adv., me·chan'i·cal·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: me·chan·i·cal
Pronunciation: mi-'kan-i-k&l
Function: adjective
1 : relating to the quantitative relations offorce and matter <mechanical pressure exerted by the bubbles in the tissues —H. G. Armstrong>
2 : caused by, resulting from, or relating to physical as opposedto biological or chemical processes or change <mechanical injury> <mechanical asphyxiation> —me·chan·i·cal·ly /-i-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

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.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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