3. Base. [Obs.] Whitlock.
Mechanical
(Me*chan"ic*al) a. [From Mechanic, a.]
1. Pertaining to, governed by, or in accordance with, mechanics, or the laws of motion; pertaining to
the quantitative relations of force and matter, as distinguished from mental, vital, chemical, etc.; as,
mechanical principles; a mechanical theory; mechanical deposits.
2. Of or pertaining to a machine or to machinery or tools; made or formed by a machine or with tools; as,
mechanical precision; mechanical products.
We have also divers mechanical arts.
Bacon. 3. Done as if by a machine; uninfluenced by will or emotion; proceeding automatically, or by habit, without
special intention or reflection; as, mechanical singing; mechanical verses; mechanical service.
4. Made and operated by interaction of forces without a directing intelligence; as, a mechanical universe.
5. Obtained by trial, by measurements, etc.; approximate; empirical. See the 2d Note under Geometric.
Mechanical effect, effective power; useful work exerted, as by a machine, in a definite time. — Mechanical
engineering. See the Note under Engineering. — Mechanical maneuvers (Mil.), the application of
mechanical appliances to the mounting, dismounting, and moving of artillery. Farrow. - - Mechanical
philosophy, the principles of mechanics applied to the investigation of physical phenomena. — Mechanical
powers, certain simple instruments, such as the lever and its modifications (the wheel and axle and the
pulley), the inclined plane with its modifications (the screw and the wedge), which convert a small force
acting through a great space into a great force acting through a small space, or vice versa, and are
used separately or in combination. — Mechanical solution (Math.), a solution of a problem by any
art or contrivance not strictly geometrical, as by means of the ruler and compasses, or other instruments.
Mechanical
(Me*chan"ic*al), n. A mechanic. [Obs.] Shak.
Mechanicalize
(Me*chan"ic*al*ize) v. t. To cause to become mechanical.
Mechanically
(Me*chan"ic*al*ly), adv. In a mechanical manner.
Mechanicalness
(Me*chan"ic*al*ness), n. The state or quality of being mechanical.
Mechanician
(Mech`a*ni"cian) n. [Cf. F. mécanicien. See Mechanic.] One skilled in the theory or
construction of machines; a machinist. Boyle.
Mechanico-chemical
(Me*chan`i*co-chem"ic*al) a. Pertaining to, connected with, or dependent upon,
both mechanics and chemistry; — said especially of those sciences which treat of such phenomena as
seem to depend on the laws both of mechanics and chemistry, as electricity and magnetism.
Mechanics
(Me*chan"ics) n. [Cf. F. mécanique.] That science, or branch of applied mathematics, which
treats of the action of forces on bodies.
That part of mechanics which considers the action of forces in producing rest or equilibrium is called
statics; that which relates to such action in producing motion is called dynamics. The term mechanics
includes the action of forces on all bodies, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous. It is sometimes, however,
and formerly was often, used distinctively of solid bodies only: The mechanics of liquid bodies is called
also hydrostatics, or hydrodynamics, according as the laws of rest or of motion are considered. The
mechanics of gaseous bodies is called also pneumatics. The mechanics of fluids in motion, with special
reference to the methods of obtaining from them useful results, constitutes hydraulics.
