Dictionary
me•chan•i•cal
Pronunciation: (mu-kan'i-kul), [key]—
adj.
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.
—
n.
1. a mechanical object, part, device, etc.
2. Print.a sheet of stiff paper on which has been pasted artwork and type proofs for making a printing plate; paste-up.
3. Obs.a skilled manual laborer, as a carpenter or other artisan.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
