mechanism

Wikipedia

English

Etymology

From Latin mechanismus, from Greek μηχανή (mekhanē, “machine”)

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmɛkənɪzm/, X-SAMPA: /"mEk@nIzm/

Noun

mechanism (plural mechanisms)

1. Within a machine or machinery; any mechanical means for the conversion or control of motion, or the transmission or control of power.
2. Any combination of cams, gears, links, belts, chains and logical mechanical elements.
   • 2012 March 1, Henry Petroski, “Opening Doors”, American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 112-3: 

     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.

3. A group of objects or parts that interact together. (as in Political machine)
4. A mental, physical, or chemical process.
5. (philosophy) A theory that all natural phenomena can be explained by physical causes.

Derived terms

• defense mechanism
• reaction mechanism

Translations

mechanical means for the conversion or control of motion

• Armenian: մեխանիզմ (hy) (mexanizm)
• Catalan: mecanisme (ca) m
• Czech: mechanismus (cs)
• Danish: mekanisme (da)
• Dutch: mechanisme (nl) n
• Esperanto: meĥanismo (eo), mekanismo (eo)
• Finnish: mekanismi (fi)
• French: mechanisme (fr) m
• German: Mechanismus (de) m
• Greek: μηχανισμός (el) (michanismós) m

• Ido: mekanismo (io)
• Latvian: mehānisms (lv) m
• Persian: مکانیزم (fa)
• Polish: mechanizm (pl)
• Romanian: mecanism (ro) n
• Russian: механизм (ru) (mehanízm) m
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: механизам (sh) m

  Roman: mehanizam (sh) m

• Spanish: mecanismo (es) m
• Swedish: mekanism (sv)
• Telugu: యంత్రాంగం (te) (yantraangam)

mental, chemical, or physical process

• Catalan: mecanisme (ca) m
• Greek: μηχανισμός (el) (michanismós) m

• Latvian: mehānisms (lv) m
• Spanish: mecanismo (es) m