English Online Dictionary. What means mechanism? What does mechanism mean?
English
Etymology
Learned borrowing from New Latin mechanismus, from Ancient Greek μηχανή (mēkhanḗ, “machine”).
Pronunciation
- (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈmɛk.ə.nɪ.zəm/, [ˈmɛk.ə.nɪ.zm̩]
- (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈmek.ə.nɪ.zəm/, [ˈmek.əˌnɪ.zm̩]
Noun
mechanism (countable and uncountable, plural mechanisms)
- (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.
- A group of entities, such as objects, that interact together.
- A mental, physical, or chemical process.
- Any process of, or system designed to manage useful energy conversion.
- (philosophy) The theory that all natural phenomena can be explained by physical causes.
Derived terms
Related terms
- machine
Descendants
- → Welsh: mecanism