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Mechanism vs Pathway - What's the difference?

mechanism | pathway |

As nouns the difference between mechanism and pathway

is that mechanism is within a machine or machinery; any mechanical means for the conversion or control of motion, or the transmission or control of power while pathway is a footpath or other path or track.

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

    pathway

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A footpath or other path or track.
  • (biochemistry) A sequence of biochemical compounds, and the reactions linking them, that describe a process in metabolism or catabolism.