a. [ F. mécanique, L. mechanicus, Gr. mhchaniko`s, fr. mhchanh` 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mechanic slaves,
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to a mechanic or artificer, or to the class of artisans; hence, rude; common; vulgar. [ 1913 Webster ]

To make a god, a hero, or a king
Descend to a mechanic dialect. Roscommon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sometimes he ply'd the strong, mechanic tool. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Base. [ Obs. ] Whitlock. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. mécanique mechanics. See Mechanic, a. ] 1. The art of the application of the laws of motion or force to construction. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. Also, a technician who maintains or repairs machinery; as, an auto mechanic. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

An art quite lost with our mechanics. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A mechanic. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Mechanic, a. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Pertaining to, governed by, or in accordance with, mechanics, or the laws of motion; pertaining to the quantitative relations of force and matter on a macroscopic scale, as distinguished from mental, vital, chemical, electrical, electronic, atomic etc.; as, mechanical principles; a mechanical theory; especially, using only the interactions of solid parts against each other; as mechanical brakes, in contrast to hydraulic brakes. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

We have also divers mechanical arts. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Made and operated by interaction of forces without a directing intelligence; as, a mechanical universe. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Obtained by trial, by measurements, etc.; approximate; empirical. See the 2d Note under Geometric. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause to become mechanical. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a mechanical manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being mechanical. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. mécanicien. See Mechanic. ] One skilled in the theory or construction of machines; a machinist. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. mécanique. ] That science, or branch of applied mathematics, which treats of the action of forces on bodies. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Animal mechanics (Physiol.), that portion of physiology which has for its object the investigation of the laws of equilibrium and motion in the animal body. The most important mechanical principle is that of the lever, the bones forming the arms of the levers, the contractile muscles the power, the joints the fulcra or points of support, while the weight of the body or of the individual limbs constitutes the weight or resistance. --
Applied mechanics, the principles of abstract mechanics applied to human art; also, the practical application of the laws of matter and motion to the construction of machines and structures of all kinds. --
orbital mechanics, the principles governing the motion of bodies in orbit around other bodies under gravitational influence, such as artificial Earth satellites. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]