mechanics English · revision 7510

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1612}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /məˈkænɪks/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the plural of [[mechanic]] with [[-ics]],^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline) after Late Latin mechanica and Greek [[m|grc|μηχανική|tr=mēkhanikḗ|t=mechanics]], from mēkhanikós, of machines.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The theory of machines: 1612 in MWU, the 1640s in Etymonline;^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) the body of theoretical and practical knowledge of machines, the mid-17th century in SOED.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As the branch of applied mathematics treating of motion and forces on bodies, it is from 1648 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Manual operations is a rare obsolete sense of 1726.^(OED 1989) The procedural or operational details of something are from 1925.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1612 – first known use.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1648 – in mathematics.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1925 – operational details.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(physics)'' The branch of science dealing with the action of [[force|alt=forces]] on matter, including statics and dynamics.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The design, construction and use of [[machinery]].^(AHD)

+ # The technical or working details of an activity: ''the mechanics of voting''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[aeromechanics]]

+ * [[telemechanics]]

+ * [[biomechanics]]

+ * [[hydromechanics]]

+ * [[body mechanics]]

+ * [[celestial mechanics]]

+ * [[classical mechanics]]

+ * [[fluid mechanics]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mechanic]]

+ * [[mechanical]]

+ * [[machine]]

+ * [[mechanism]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}