mechanical: Meaning and Definition of

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. a sheet of stiff paper on which has been pasted artwork and type proofs for making a printing plate; paste-up.
  3. a skilled manual laborer, as a carpenter or other artisan.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: