Adjacent Words

Mechanic definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MECHAN'IC
MECHAN'ICAL, a. [L. mechanicus; Gr. a machine.]
1. Pertaining to machines, or to the art of constructing machines; pertaining to the art of making wares, goods, instruments, furniture, etc. We say, a man is employed in mechanical labor; he lives by mechanical occupation.
2. Constructed or performed by the rules or laws of mechanics. The work is not mechanical.
3. Skilled in the art of making machines; bred to manual labor.
4. Pertaining to artisans or mechanics; vulgar.
To make a god, a hero or a king,
Descend to a mechanic dialect.
5. Pertaining to the principles of mechanics, in philosophy;
as mechanical powers or forces; a mechanical principle.
6. Acting by physical power; as mechanical pressure.
The terms mechanical and chimical, are thus distinguished; those changes which bodies undergo without altering their constitution, that is, losing their identity, such as changes of place, of figure, etc. are mechanical; those which alter the constitution of bodies,making them different substances, as when flour, yeast and water unite to form bread, are chimical. In the one case, the changes relate to masses of matter, as the motions of the heavenly bodies, or the action of the wind on a ship under sail; in the other case, the changes occur between the particles of matter, as the action of heat in melting lead, or the union of sand and lime forming mortar. Most of what are usually called the mechanic arts, are partly mechanical, and partly chimical.
MECHAN'IC, n. A person whose occupation is to construct machines, or goods, wares, instruments, furniture, and the like.
1. One skilled in a mechanical occupation or art.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: resembling the action of a machine; "from blank to blank a threadless way I pushed mechanic feet"- Emily Dickenson n
1: a craftsman skilled in operating machine tools [syn: machinist, mechanic, shop mechanic]
2: someone whose occupation is repairing and maintaining automobiles [syn: automobile mechanic, auto-mechanic, car-mechanic, mechanic, grease monkey]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, probably from Middle French mecanique, adjective & noun, from Latin mechanicus, from Greek m?chanikos, from m?chan? Date: 14th century 1. of or relating to manual work or skill 2. mechanical 3a II. noun Date: 1509 1. a manual worker ; artisan 2. machinist; especially one who repairs machines

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a skilled worker, esp. one who makes or uses or repairs machinery. Etymology: ME (orig. as adj.) f. OF mecanique or L mechanicus f. Gk mekhanikos (as MACHINE)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mechanic Me*chan"ic, n. [F. m['e]canique mechanics. See Mechanic, a.] 1. The art of the application of the laws of motion or force to construction. [Obs.] 2. A mechanician; an artisan; an artificer; one who practices any mechanic art; one skilled or employed in shaping and uniting materials, as wood, metal, etc., into any kind of structure, machine, or other object, requiring the use of tools, or instruments. An art quite lost with our mechanics. --Sir T. Browne.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mechanic Me*chan"ic, a. [F. m['e]canique, L. mechanicus, Gr. ?, fr. ? a machine. See Machine.] 1. Having to do with the application of the laws of motion in the art of constructing or making things; of or pertaining to mechanics; mechanical; as, the mechanic arts. ``These mechanic philosophers.'' --Ray. Mechanic slaves, With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers. --Shak. 2. Of or pertaining to a mechanic or artificer, or to the class of artisans; hence, rude; common; vulgar. To make a god, a hero, or a king Descend to a mechanic dialect. --Roscommon. Sometimes he ply'd the strong, mechanic tool. --Thomson. 3. Base. [Obs.] --Whitlock.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(mechanics) 1. A mechanic is someone whose job is to repair and maintain machines and engines, especially car engines. If you smell gas fumes or burning, take the car to your mechanic... N-COUNT 2. The mechanics of a process, system, or activity are the way in which it works or the way in which it is done. What are the mechanics of this new process?... N-PLURAL: usu the N of n 3. Mechanics is the part of physics that deals with the natural forces that act on moving or stationary objects. He has not studied mechanics or engineering.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Artisan, artificer, craftsman, handicraftsman, operative, workman, hand.

Moby Thesaurus

aeromechanic, aeronautical engineer, aircraftsman, apprentice, artificer, artisan, artist, cobbler, craftsman, craftswoman, doctor, fixer, flight tester, grease monkey, ground tester, handicraftsman, jet engineer, journeyman, little Miss Fixit, machinist, maintenance man, master, master carpenter, master craftsman, mechanician, mender, prentice, renovator, repairer, repairman, restorer, rigger, rocket engineer, serviceman, technician, tinker, trouble man, troubleshooter, wright