physical

English Online Dictionary. What means physical‎? What does physical mean?

English

Alternative forms

• physickal (obsolete)

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin physicālis, from Latin physica (“study of nature”), from Ancient Greek φυσική (phusikḗ), feminine singular of φυσικός (phusikós, “natural; physical”), from φύσις (phúsis, “origin, birth; nature, quality; form, shape; type, kind”), from φῠ́ω (phúō, “grow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to appear, become, rise up”).

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈfɪzɪkəl/

Adjective

physical (comparative more physical, superlative most physical)

1. Of medicine.
   1. (obsolete) Pertaining to the field of medicine; medical. [15th–19th c.]
   2. (obsolete) That practises medicine; pertaining to doctors, physicianly. [18th c.]
   3. (obsolete) Medicinal; good for the health, curative, therapeutic. [16th–19th c.]
      • 1579, Thomas North, translating Pliny, Parallel Lives:

        Phisicall [translating φαρμακώδεις (pharmakṓdeis)] herbes, as Helleborum, Lingewort, or Beares foote.
2. Of matter and nature.
   1. Pertaining to the world as understood through the senses rather than the mind; tangible, concrete; real. Having to do with the material world. [from 16th c.]

   2. In accordance with the laws of nature; now specifically, pertaining to physics. [from 16th c.]

   3. Denoting a map showing natural features of the landscape (compare political). [from 18th c.]
3. Of the human body.
   1. Having to do with the body as opposed to the mind; corporeal, bodily. [from 18th c.]
   2. Sexual, carnal. [from 18th c.]
   3. Involving bodily force or contact; vigorous, aggressive. [from 20th c.]

Antonyms

• mental, psychical, psychological, spiritual; having to do with the mind or spirit (or both) viewed as distinct from body.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

physical (plural physicals)

1. Physical examination.

   Synonyms: checkup, check-up

2. (parapsychology) A physical manifestation of psychic origin, as through ectoplasmic solidification.

Translations