'Mechanism' definitions:
Definition of 'mechanism'
(from WordNet)
noun
The atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction; "he determined unique mechanisms for the photochemical reactions" [syn: mechanism, chemical mechanism]
noun
The technical aspects of doing something; "a mechanism of social control"; "mechanisms of communication"; "the mechanics of prose style" [syn: mechanism, mechanics]
noun
A natural object resembling a machine in structure or function; "the mechanism of the ear"; "the mechanism of infection"
noun
(philosophy) the philosophical theory that all phenomena can be explained in terms of physical or biological causes
noun
Device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function
Definition of 'Mechanism'
From: GCIDE
- Mechanism \Mech"an*ism\, n. [Cf. F. m['e]canisme, L. mechanisma. See Mechanic.]
- 1. The arrangement or relation of the parts of a machine; the parts of a machine, taken collectively; the arrangement or relation of the parts of anything as adapted to produce an effect; as, the mechanism of a watch; the mechanism of a sewing machine; the mechanism of a seed pod. [1913 Webster]
- 2. The series of causal relations that operate to produce an effect in any system; as, the mechanism of a chemical reaction. [PJC]
- 3. Mechanical operation or action. [1913 Webster]
- He acknowledges nothing besides matter and motion; so that all must be performed either by mechanism or accident. --Bentley. [1913 Webster]
- 4. (Kinematics) An ideal machine; a combination of movable bodies constituting a machine, but considered only with regard to relative movements. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'mechanism'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- action,
- agency,
- agent,
- ancilla,
- animalism,
- apparatus,
- appliance,
- approach,
- arrangement,
- art,
- atomism,
- automatic switch,
- behaviorism,
- channel selector,
- Charlie McCarthy,
- check valve,
- clockworks,
- commonsense realism,
- contour follower,
- contrivance,
- control valve,
- convenience,
- craft,
- creature,
- device,
- dialectical materialism,
- drive,
- drive train,
- dummy,
- dupe,
- earthliness,
- electronic control,
- emergency control,
- empiricism,
- engine,
- enginery,
- epiphenomenalism,
- expedient,
- facility,
- finder switch,
- fixture,
- flowmanostat,
- gear,
- go-between,
- going between,
- handmaid,
- handmaiden,
- historical materialism,
- hylomorphism,
- hylotheism,
- hylozoism,
- implement,
- innards,
- instrument,
- instrumentality,
- interagent,
- intermediary,
- intermediate,
- intermediation,
- intermedium,
- internal selector,
- lever,
- machine,
- machinery,
- Marxism,
- materialism,
- means,
- mechanical aid,
- mechanical device,
- mechanics,
- mediation,
- mediator,
- medium,
- method,
- midwife,
- minion,
- monism,
- motion,
- motive power,
- motor,
- movement,
- movements,
- natural realism,
- naturalism,
- new realism,
- organ,
- organization,
- pawn,
- physicalism,
- physicism,
- plaything,
- positive philosophy,
- positivism,
- power plant,
- power source,
- power train,
- pragmaticism,
- pragmatism,
- procedure,
- process,
- puppet,
- realism,
- recourse,
- rectifier,
- register regulator,
- representative realism,
- resort,
- safety control,
- safety fuse,
- safety stop,
- safety switch,
- safety valve,
- science,
- secularism,
- selector switch,
- sequence switch,
- servant,
- service,
- servo valve,
- servomechanism,
- skill,
- slave,
- stooge,
- structure,
- substantialism,
- system,
- technic,
- technical know-how,
- technical knowledge,
- technical skill,
- technics,
- technique,
- technology,
- temporality,
- thermoswitch,
- timer,
- tool,
- toy,
- utility,
- vehicle,
- voltage regulator,
- voltage stabilizer,
- watchworks,
- way,
- wheels,
- wheels within wheels,
- workings,
- works,
- worldliness
Words containing 'Mechanism'
- Mechanic,
- Mechanical,
- Mechanically,
- Mechanics,
- Mechanize,
- Mechanized,
- Mechanizing,
- mechanization,
- Animal mechanics,
- Applied mechanics,
- Mechanic Falls,
- Mechanic Falls, ME,
- Mechanical effect,
- Mechanical engineering,
- Mechanical maneuvers,
- Mechanical philosophy,
- Mechanical powers,
- Mechanical solution,
- Train of mechanism,
- action mechanism,
- airplane mechanics,
- auto mechanics,
- automobile mechanic,
- biochemical mechanism,
- celestial mechanics,
- chemical mechanism,
- classical mechanics,
- defence mechanism,
- defense mechanism,
- escape mechanism,
- firing mechanism,
- fluid mechanics,
- gear mechanism,
- mechanic's lien,
- mechanical advantage,
- mechanical device,
- mechanical drawing,
- mechanical energy,
- mechanical engineer,
- mechanical man,
- mechanical mixture,
- mechanical phenomenon,
- mechanical piano,
- mechanical press,
- mechanical system,
- mechanically skillful,
- mechanism of action,
- mechanized cavalry,
- newtonian mechanics,
- orbital mechanics,
- quantum mechanics,
- rotating mechanism,
- shop mechanic,
- statistical mechanics,
- steering mechanism,
- transmission mechanism,
- wave mechanics,
- Mechanical equivalent of heat,
- auto-mechanic,
- car-mechanic