mechanic

American  

[muh-kan-ik] / məˈkæn ɪk /

noun

1. a person who repairs and maintains machinery, motors, etc..

   an automobile mechanic.

2. a worker who is skilled in the use of tools, machines, equipment, etc.

3. Slang.  a person skilled in the dishonest handling of cards, dice, or other objects used in games of chance.

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mechanic British  

/ mɪˈkænɪk /

noun

1. a person skilled in maintaining or operating machinery, motors, etc

2. archaic  a common labourer

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Etymology

Origin of mechanic

1350–1400; Middle English: mechanical < Latin mēchanicus < Greek mēchanikós, equivalent to mēchan ( ḗ ) machine + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

“Not surprisingly, some of the loudest fear-mongering has tended to come from those manifestly unfamiliar with the underlying mechanics of the company,” Palmer continued.

From Barron's

Because photons behave according to quantum mechanics, their polarization cannot be measured without leaving detectable traces.

From Science Daily

But what an opportunity for the company to establish a school to train mechanics itself.

From The Wall Street Journal

His timing was off and his mechanics were wonky.

From The Wall Street Journal

The mechanics, the engineers, myself, everyone in McLaren, feels let down by what we had as a result.

From BBC

Related Words

• machinist
• operator
• worker