different between mechanism vs mechanical

English

Etymology

From Latin mechanismus, from Greek ?????? (m?khan?, “machine”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?k?n?zm/

Noun

mechanism (countable and uncountable, plural mechanisms)

1. (within a machine or machinery) Any mechanical means for the conversion or control of motion, or the transmission or control of power.
2. Any combination of cams, gears, links, belts, chains and logical mechanical elements.
3. A group of entities, such as objects, that interact together.

4. A mental, physical, or chemical process.
5. Any process of, or system designed to manage useful energy conversion.
6. (philosophy) The theory that all natural phenomena can be explained by physical causes.

Derived terms

• defense mechanism, defence mechanism
• reaction mechanism

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English mechanical, mechanicalle, mechanycalle, equivalent to mechanic +? -al.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m??kæn?k(?)l/

Adjective

mechanical (comparative more mechanical, superlative most mechanical)

1. (now rare) Characteristic of someone who does manual labour for a living; coarse, vulgar.
2. Related to mechanics (the branch of physics that deals with forces acting on mass).

3. Related to mechanics (the design and construction of machines).

4. Done by machine.

5. Using mechanics (the design and construction of machines): being a machine.

6. As if performed by a machine: lifeless or mindless.

7. (of a person) Acting as if one were a machine: lifeless or mindless.
8. (informal) Handy with machines.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

mechanical (plural mechanicals)

1. (advertising) Manually created layout of artwork that is camera ready for photographic reproduction.
   • 2009, New York State Sales and Use Tax Law and Regulations

     In order to produce the posters, the advertising agency purchases photographs, composition and artwork and fabricates such property to produce layouts and mechanicals.

2. One who does manual labor, especially one who is similar to Shakespeare's rude mechanicals
3. (science fiction) A robot or mechanical creature.
4. (engineering) A mechanical engineer.
5. (cycling) An instance of equipment failure.
6. (music) A stop on an organ that is operated by a hand or foot control rather than having to be manually set up in advance.
7. (archaic) A machine that performs a job typically accomplished using an animal or manual labor.

Synonyms

• (camera-ready artwork): pasteup

Further reading

• "mechanical" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 201.