physical definition | Dictionary.com

phys⋅i⋅cal

[fiz-i-kuh

–adjective

1.	of or pertaining to the body: physical exercise.

2.	of or pertaining to that which is material: the physical universe; the physical sciences.

3.	noting or pertaining to the properties of matter and energy other than those peculiar to living matter.

4.	pertaining to the physical sciences, esp. physics.

5.	carnal; sexual: a physical attraction.

6.	tending to touch, hug, pat, etc.; physically demonstrative: a physical person.

7.	requiring, characterized by, or liking rough physical contact or strenuous physical activity: Football is a physical sport.

–noun

8.	physical examination.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME < ML physicālis concerning medicine. See physic, -al ¹

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To physical

phys·i·cal (fĭz'ĭ-kəl)

adj.

1. Of or relating to the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit. See Synonyms at bodily.
2. Involving or characterized by vigorous bodily activity: a physical dance performance.
3. Slang Involving or characterized by violence: "A real cop would get physical" (TV Guide).
Of or relating to material things: our physical environment.
Of or relating to matter and energy or the sciences dealing with them, especially physics.

n. A physical examination.

[Middle English phisical, medical, from Medieval Latin physicālis, from Latin physica, physics; see physics.]
phys'i·cal'i·ty (-kāl'ĭ-tē) n., phys'i·cal·ly adv.

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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Physical

Phys"ic*al\, a. 1. Of or pertaining to nature (as including all created existences); in accordance with the laws of nature; also, of or relating to natural or material things, or to the bodily structure, as opposed to things mental, moral, spiritual, or imaginary; material; natural; as, armies and navies are the physical force of a nation; the body is the physical part of man.

Labor, in the physical world, is . . . employed in putting objects in motion. --J. S. Mill.

A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere physical force. --Macaulay.

2. Of or pertaining to physics, or natural philosophy; treating of, or relating to, the causes and connections of natural phenomena; as, physical science; physical laws. "Physical philosophy." --Pope.

3. Perceptible through a bodily or material organization; cognizable by the senses; external; as, the physical, opposed to chemical, characters of a mineral.

4. Of or pertaining to physic, or the art of medicine; medicinal; curative; healing; also, cathartic; purgative. [Obs.] "Physical herbs." --Sir T. North.

Is Brutus sick? and is it physical To walk unbraced, and suck up the humors Of the dank morning? --Shak.

Physical astronomy, that part of astronomy which treats of the causes of the celestial motions; specifically, that which treats of the motions resulting from universal gravitation.

Physical education, training of the bodily organs and powers with a view to the promotion of health and vigor.

Physical examination (Med.), an examination of the bodily condition of a person.

Physical geography. See under Geography.

Physical point, an indefinitely small portion of matter; a point conceived as being without extension, yet having physical properties, as weight, inertia, momentum, etc.; a material point.

Physical signs (Med.), the objective signs of the bodily state afforded by a physical examination.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : physical

Spanish: físico,

German: körperlich,

Japanese: 身体の

More Translations »

physical

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.

Main Entry: ¹phys·i·cal
Pronunciation: 'fiz-i-k&l
Function: adjective
1 : having material existence : perceptible especially through the senses and subject to the laws of nature
2 a : of or relating to physics b : characterized or produced by the forces andoperations of physics
3 : of or relating to the body —phys·i·cal·ly /-k(&-)lE/ adverb

Main Entry: ²physical
Function: noun
: PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

physical phys·i·cal (fĭz'ĭ-kəl)
adj.
Abbr. phys.

Of or relating to the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit.
Involving or characterized by vigorous bodily activity.
Of or relating to material things.
Of or relating to matter and energy or the sciences dealing with them, especially physics.

n.
A physical examination.

phys'i·cal'i·ty (-kāl'ĭ-tē) adj.

physical jargon
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)

physical

see get physical.

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