Definition

1. Noun:

   • A skilled worker who repairs and maintains machinery, especially vehicles: A person whose occupation involves fixing mechanical equipment, with a common specialization in automobiles.
   • A person skilled in the operation of machine tools: A craftsman who works with and operates industrial machinery.

2. Adjective:

   • Relating to or involving manual labor or machinery: Pertaining to mechanics or machines.
   • Done as if by a machine; automatic, lacking spontaneity: Describing an action that is repetitive, routine, or performed without thought.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The mechanic fixed the car's engine in just a few hours.
  • She trained as an aircraft mechanic in the military.
• Adjective:
  • The process was purely mechanic and required no creativity. (Note: The adjectival use is now rare; "mechanical" is the standard modern form.)
  • He performed the task with a mechanic precision.

Advanced Usage

• "Mechanic arts": An archaic term for the skilled trades involving the use of tools and machinery.
  • In the 18th century, schools began teaching the mechanic arts.

Variants and Related Words

• Mechanical (adj): The standard modern adjective form, meaning pertaining to machinery, or performed automatically without thought.
  • The problem was due to a mechanical failure.
  • His apology seemed mechanical and insincere.
• Mechanics (n):
  • The branch of physics dealing with motion and forces.
  • The functional or technical aspects of something.

Synonyms

• Technician: A person skilled in the technical details of a field.
• Engineer: A person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or structures. (Note: Often implies a higher level of theoretical training than "mechanic".)
• Artificer (archaic/literary): A skilled craftsman or inventor.

Related Phrases

• Grease monkey (informal, sometimes derogatory): A slang term for an auto mechanic.
  • My uncle, a grease monkey, could fix any old car.
• Master mechanic: A highly skilled and experienced mechanic.
  • It takes years to become a master mechanic.

Idioms

• A mechanic's lien: A legal claim placed on a property (like a vehicle or building) by a worker who has not been paid for repair work.
  • The shop filed a mechanic's lien on the car after the owner refused to pay the bill.

Adjective

1. resembling the action of a machine
   • from blank to blank a threadless way I pushed mechanic feet- Emily Dickenson

Noun

1. someone whose occupation is repairing and maintaining automobiles
2. a craftsman skilled in operating machine tools