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Mechanical Definition, Usage & Examples (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：related to machines (mechanical)
mechanical
/məˈkænɪk(ə)l/
adj.
related to machines or their parts and movement.
related to machines
➕
/rɪˈleɪtɪd tə məˈʃiːnz/
adj.
Describes anything pertaining to machinery, its components, or the principles of its operation.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Greek 'mēkhanē' (machine, device) via Latin 'mechanicus'. It relates to machinery and invention.
💡 Mnemonic
Think 'Mechanic' + '-al'. A mechanic works with machines, so something mechanical is machine-related.
📖 Example
My brother is great at fixing things; he has a real understanding of how mechanical parts work in a bicycle.
My brother is great at fixing things; he has a real understanding of how machine-related parts work in a bicycle.
🔗 Collocations
mechanical engineering – The branch of engineering dealing with the design and production of machines.
mechanical failure – A breakdown caused by a fault in machinery or a machine part.
mechanical advantage – The ratio of the force produced by a machine to the force applied to it.
🔄 Synonyms
automated (adj.) – Operated by machines or automation with minimal human input.
mechanized (adj.) – Equipped with or performed by machinery.
machine-driven (adj.) – Powered or controlled by a machine.
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
mechanically (adv.) – In a way that relates to or uses machinery; in a machine-like manner.
mechanics (n.) – The branch of physics concerned with motion and forces; the functional aspects of something.
📖 Cultural Story
The concept originates from ancient Greek mechanics, related to 'mēkhanē' meaning a machine or a means. It was formalized in the Scientific Revolution, distinguishing mechanical (bodily force) from natural philosophy. Today, it underpins engineering.
Meaning 2：done without thinking (mechanical)
mechanical
/məˈkænɪk(ə)l/
adj.
done without thinking or feeling, like a machine; rigid and repetitive.
done without thinking
➕
/dʌn wɪˈθaʊt ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
adj.
Describes actions performed in a routine, automatic, and lifeless way, lacking thought, emotion, or spontaneity.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
After playing the same piano piece a hundred times, her fingers moved in a mechanical way, lacking the emotion she had at first.
After playing the same piano piece a hundred times, her fingers moved in an unthinking, automatic way, lacking the emotion she had at first.
🔗 Collocations
mechanical response – An automatic, unthinking reply given out of habit.
mechanical gesture – A movement made in a stiff, routine, and insincere manner.
mechanical routine – A daily schedule followed rigidly and without variation.
🔄 Synonyms
automatic (adj.) – Done without conscious thought as a reaction or habit.
perfunctory (adj.) – Carried out with minimal effort or reflection, merely to fulfill a duty.
robot-like (adj.) – Behaving in a stiff, precise, and seemingly programmed way.
🚫 Antonyms
spontaneous (adj.) – Performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse, without premeditation.
heartfelt (adj.) – Sincere; expressing genuine feeling and emotion.
🌱 Derivatives
mechanistic (adj.) – Interpreting behavior as if it were a mechanical process, disregarding consciousness or purpose.
Meaning 3：pertaining to physical forces (mechanical)
mechanical
/məˈkænɪk(ə)l/
adj.
related to the physical forces and movements of objects, not involving chemical changes.
pertaining to physical forces
➕
/pəˈteɪnɪŋ tə ˈfɪzɪk(ə)l ˈfɔːrsɪz/
adj.
Relates to the branch of physics dealing with motion, forces, and energy in physical systems, as opposed to other forms like thermal or chemical.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
In our physics class, we learned how a pendulum converts potential energy into mechanical energy as it swings.
In our physics class, we learned how a pendulum converts potential energy into physical motion-based energy as it swings.
🔗 Collocations
mechanical energy – The sum of kinetic and potential energy in a system.
mechanical wave – A wave that requires a physical medium (like air or water) to travel.
mechanical properties – Characteristics of a material that describe how it reacts to physical forces (e.g., strength, elasticity).
🔄 Synonyms
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