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Mechanism vs Mechanical - What's the difference?

mechanism | mechanical |

Mechanical is a related term of mechanism.



As a noun mechanism

is within a machine or machinery; any mechanical means for the conversion or control of motion, or the transmission or control of power.

As an adjective mechanical is

characteristic of someone who does manual labour for a living; coarse, vulgar.

mechanism

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Within a machine or machinery; any mechanical means for the conversion or control of motion, or the transmission or control of power.
  • Any combination of cams, gears, links, belts, chains and logical mechanical elements.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03
    • , author=(Henry Petroski) , title=Opening Doors , volume=100, issue=2, page=112-3 , magazine= citation , passage=A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism —known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place.}}
  • A group of objects or parts that interact together. (as in Political machine )
  • A mental, physical or chemical process.
  • (philosophy) A theory that all natural phenomena can be explained by physical causes.

    • Derived terms

    * defense mechanism * reaction mechanism

    mechanical

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Characteristic of someone who does manual labour for a living; coarse, vulgar.
  • *, I.43:
    • all manner of silks were already become so vile and abject, that was any man seene to weare them, he was presently judged to be some countrie fellow, or mechanicall man.
  • Related to mechanics (the branch of physics that deals with forces acting on mass).
  • Related to mechanics (the design and construction of machines).
  • Done by machine.
  • Using mechanics (the design and construction of machines): being a machine.
  • As if performed by a machine: lifeless or mindless.
  • (of a person) Acting as if one were a machine: lifeless or mindless.
  • *, chapter=15
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Edward Churchill still attended to his work in a hopeless mechanical manner like a sleep-walker who walks safely on a well-known round. But his Roman collar galled him, his cossack stifled him, his biretta was as uncomfortable as a merry-andrew's cap and bells.}}
  • (informal) Handy with machines.

    • Derived terms

    * electromechanical * mechanical erasure * mechanicality * mechanically * mechanicalness * mechanical pencil * postmechanical * premechanical

    Related terms

    * mechanic * mechanics * mechanism