[Origin: 1400–50; late ME < ML physicālis concerning medicine. See physic, -al1]
—Related forms
phys·i·cal·ly, adverb
phys·i·cal·ness, noun
—Synonyms 1. somatic; fleshly. Physical,bodily,corporeal,corporal agree in pertaining to the body. Physical indicates connected with, pertaining to, the animal or human body as a material organism: physical strength, exercise. Bodily means belonging to, concerned with, the human body as distinct from the mind or spirit: bodily pain or suffering. Corporeal, a more poetic and philosophical word than bodily, refers esp. to the mortal substance of which the human body is composed as opposed to spirit: this corporeal habitation. Corporal is now usually reserved for reference to whippings and other punishments inflicted on the human body. 2. tangible, palpable.
c.1450, "of or pertaining to material nature," from M.L. physicalis "of nature, natural," from L. physica "study of nature" (see physic). Meaning "of the body, corporeal" is attested from 1780. Meaning "characterized by bodily attributes or activities" is attested from 1970. Physical education first recorded 1838; abbreviated form phys ed is from 1955.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit; "physical exercise"; "physical suffering"; "was sloppy about everything but her physical appearance" [ant: mental]
2.
relating to the sciences dealing with matter and energy; especially physics; "physical sciences"; "physical laws"
3.
having substance or material existence; perceptible to the senses; "a physical manifestation"; "surrounded by tangible objects"
4.
according with material things or natural laws (other than those peculiar to living matter); "a reflex response to physical stimuli"
5.
characterized by energetic bodily activity; "a very physical dance performance"
6.
impelled by physical force especially against resistance; "forcible entry"; "a real cop would get physical"; "strong-arm tactics" [syn: forcible]
7.
concerned with material things; "physical properties"; "the physical characteristics of the earth"; "the physical size of a computer"
physicaljargon The opposite of logical in its jargon sense. Compare real, virtual, and transparent. It is said that what you can touch and see is real; what you can see but not touch is virtual; what you can touch but not see is transparent; and what you can neither touch nor see is probably imaginary. (2001-10-26)
As*tron"o*my\, n. [OE. astronomie, F. astronomie, L. astronomia, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? astronomer; 'asth`r star + ? to distribute, regulate. See Star, and Nomad.]1. Astrology. [Obs.] Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck; And yet methinks I have astronomy. --Shak. 2. The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena. 3. A treatise on, or text-book of, the science. Physical astronomy. See under Physical.
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