English Explanatory Dictionary

mechanism

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. 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. The theory that all natural phenomena can be explained by physical causes.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɛk.ə.nɪ.zəm/ [ˈmɛk.ə.nɪ.zm̩] en-us-mechanism.ogg /ˈmek.ə.nɪ.zəm/ [ˈmek.əˌnɪ.zm̩] [mɛˈkʰænɪzm̩] [ˈmɛkʰənɪzm̩]

Word forms

mechanism mechanisms

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *megʰ-der.? Ancient Greek μηχᾰνή (mēkhănḗ)der. New Latin mechanismuslbor. English mechanism Learned borrowing from New Latin mechanismus.

Synonyms

mechanicism

Related words

machine

Derived words

Anderson-Higgs mechanism antimechanism automechanism biomechanism Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism control mechanism coping mechanism defense mechanism defence mechanism flintlock mechanism Geneva mechanism Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin mechanism Grotthuss mechanism GZK mechanism Higgs mechanism immunomechanism key encapsulation mechanism mechanismic mechanism of death mechanist mechanistic micromechanism nanomechanism neuromechanism pathomechanism Penrose mechanism pyromechanism reaction mechanism servomechanism servo-mechanism submechanism telemechanism
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