Specialist dictionary

Mechanical engineering

Machines, movement, forces, heat and manufacturing.

Core vocabulary

120 featured terms

The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.

Stressnoun

(physics) force that produces strain on a physical body; "the intensity of stress is expressed in units of force divided by units of area"

Fabricationnoun

the act of making something (a product) from raw materials; "the synthesis and fabrication of single crystals"; "an improvement in the manufactu…

Fluid mechanicsnoun

study of the mechanics of fluids

Hydraulicsnoun

study of the mechanics of fluids

Manufacturenoun

the act of making something (a product) from raw materials; "the synthesis and fabrication of single crystals"; "an improvement in the manufactu…

Manufacturingnoun

the act of making something (a product) from raw materials; "the synthesis and fabrication of single crystals"; "an improvement in the manufactu…

Torquenoun

The twisting effect of a force.

Bearingadjective

(of a structural member) withstanding a weight or strain

Machinenoun

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

Mechanicsnoun

the technical aspects of doing something; "a mechanism of social control"; "mechanisms of communication"; "the mechanics of prose style"

Mechanismnoun

the technical aspects of doing something; "a mechanism of social control"; "mechanisms of communication"; "the mechanics of prose style"

Strainnoun

difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension; "she endured the stresses and strains of life"; "he presided over the economy during the peri…

Stressnoun

difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension; "she endured the stresses and strains of life"; "he presided over the economy during the peri…

finite element analysisnoun

A computer method for predicting how a structure responds to forces or heat.

fluid dynamicsnoun

The study of how liquids and gases move.

heat transfernoun

The way heat moves from one place or object to another.

shear stressnoun

Force per area that pushes adjacent parts of a material sideways.

Breaking pointnoun

the degree of tension or stress at which something breaks

Mechanical stressnoun

elastic stress (any deformation of a solid material) and viscous stress (the gradual changing of the deformation) combined.; "The relation betwe…

Tensionnoun

(physics) a stress that produces an elongation of an elastic physical body; "the direction of maximum tension moves asymptotically toward the di…

Formationnoun

the act of fabricating something in a particular shape

Hydrodynamicsnoun

study of fluids in motion

Hydrokineticsnoun

study of fluids in motion

Hydrostaticsnoun

study of the mechanical properties of fluids that are not in motion

Newspeaknoun

deliberately ambiguous and contradictory language used to mislead and manipulate the public; "the welfare state brought its own newspeak"

Prefabricationnoun

the manufacture of sections of a building at the factory so they can be easily and rapidly assembled at the building site

Shapingnoun

the act of fabricating something in a particular shape

Assemblynoun

a group of machine parts that fit together to form a self-contained unit

Calculatornoun

a small machine that is used for mathematical calculations; can be mechanical or electronic

Calendernoun

a machine that smooths or glazes paper or cloth by pressing it between plates or passing it through rollers

Combernoun

a machine that separates and straightens the fibers of cotton or wool

Computernoun

a machine for performing calculations automatically

Diggernoun

a machine for excavating

Excavatornoun

a machine for excavating

Feedernoun

a machine that automatically provides a supply of some material; "the feeder discharged feed into a trough for the livestock"

Ginnoun

a machine that separates the seeds from raw cotton fibers

Hoppernoun

a machine used for picking hops

Machinerynoun

machines or machine systems collectively

Motornoun

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

Paviornoun

a machine for laying pavement

Pestlenoun

machine consisting of a heavy bar that moves vertically for pounding or crushing ores

Phonographnoun

machine in which rotating records cause a stylus to vibrate and the vibrations are amplified acoustically or electronically

Pressnoun

any machine that exerts pressure to form or shape or cut materials or extract liquids or compress solids

Pressnoun

a machine used for printing

Printernoun

a machine that prints

Riveternoun

a machine for driving rivets

Shovelnoun

a machine for excavating

Simulatornoun

a machine that simulates an environment for the purpose of training or research

Slicernoun

a machine for cutting; usually with a revolving blade

Sorternoun

a machine for sorting things (such as punched cards or letters) into classes

Stampnoun

machine consisting of a heavy bar that moves vertically for pounding or crushing ores

Staplernoun

a machine that inserts staples into sheets of paper in order to fasten them together

Tackernoun

a hand-held machine for driving staples home

Trimmernoun

a machine that trims timber

Filingnoun

the act of using a file (as in shaping or smoothing an object)

Forgingnoun

shaping metal by heating and hammering

Granulationnoun

the act of forming something into granules or grains; "the granulation of medicines"

Groovingnoun

the cutting of spiral grooves on the inside of the barrel of a firearm

Riflingnoun

the cutting of spiral grooves on the inside of the barrel of a firearm

Turningnoun

the activity of shaping something on a lathe

load-bearingadjective

capable of bearing a structural load; "a supporting wall"

Supportingadjective

capable of bearing a structural load; "a supporting wall"

Abacusnoun

a calculator that performs arithmetic functions by manually sliding counters on rods or in grooves

Addernoun

a machine that adds numbers

Buffernoun

a power tool used to buff surfaces

Burrnoun

rotary file for smoothing rough edges left on a workpiece

Clientnoun

(computer science) any computer that is hooked up to a computer network

Collatornoun

a machine that selects, merges and matches decks of punch cards.

Counternoun

a calculator that keeps a record of the number of times something happens

Cultivatornoun

a farm implement used to break up the surface of the soil (for aeration and weed control and conservation of moisture)

Dredgenoun

a power shovel to remove material from a channel or riverbed

Drill pressnoun

a machine tool with a separate, upright stand; an electric drill is pressed into the work automatically or with a hand lever

Enginenoun

motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work

Enginerynoun

machinery consisting of engines collectively

Grindernoun

a machine tool that polishes metal

Grindernoun

machinery that processes materials by grinding or crushing

Guestnoun

(computer science) any computer that is hooked up to a computer network

Hammernoun

a power tool for drilling rocks

Harvesternoun

farm machine that gathers a food crop from the fields

Haymakernoun

a farm machine that treats hay to cause more rapid and even drying

Hostnoun

(computer science) a computer that provides client stations with access to files and printers as shared resources to a computer network

Internet sitenoun

a computer connected to the internet that maintains a series of web pages on the World Wide Web; a computer connected to the internet that maint…

Loomnoun

a textile machine for weaving yarn into a textile

Millnoun

machinery that processes materials by grinding or crushing

Napier's bonesnoun

a set of graduated rods formerly used to do multiplication and division by a method invented by John Napier

Napier's rodsnoun

a set of graduated rods formerly used to do multiplication and division by a method invented by John Napier

Nodenoun

(computer science) any computer that is hooked up to a computer network

Planenoun

a power tool for smoothing or shaping wood

Planernoun

a power tool for smoothing or shaping wood

Polishernoun

a power tool used to buff surfaces

Predictornoun

a computer for controlling antiaircraft fire that computes the position of an aircraft at the instant of a shell's arrival

Printernoun

(computer science) an output device that prints the results of data processing

Quipunoun

calculator consisting of a cord with attached cords; used by ancient Peruvians for calculating and keeping records

Reapernoun

farm machine that gathers a food crop from the fields

Routernoun

a power tool with a shaped cutter; used in carpentry for cutting grooves

Sawnoun

a power tool for cutting wood

Servernoun

(computer science) a computer that provides client stations with access to files and printers as shared resources to a computer network

Shapernoun

a machine tool for shaping metal or wood

Sitenoun

a computer connected to the internet that maintains a series of web pages on the World Wide Web; a computer connected to the internet that maint…

Slotnoun

a slot machine that is used for gambling; "they spend hours and hours just playing the slots"

Smoothernoun

a power tool used for sanding wood; an endless loop of sandpaper is moved at high speed by an electric motor

Stampernoun

a power tool that stamps; "a metal stamper"

Steppernoun

a motor (especially an electric motor) that moves or rotates in small discrete steps

Subtracternoun

a machine that subtracts numbers

Tabletnoun

a portable computer with a touchscreen

Technologynoun

machinery and equipment developed from engineering or other applied sciences

Thrashernoun

a farm machine for separating seeds or grain from the husks and straw

Threshernoun

a farm machine for separating seeds or grain from the husks and straw

Tillernoun

a farm implement used to break up the surface of the soil (for aeration and weed control and conservation of moisture)

Trainernoun

simulator consisting of a machine on the ground that simulates the conditions of flying a plane

Turing machinenoun

a hypothetical computer with an infinitely long memory tape

Warpernoun

a textile machine used for warping any natural or manmade yarns.

Web sitenoun

a computer connected to the internet that maintains a series of web pages on the World Wide Web; a computer connected to the internet that maint…

Websitenoun

a computer connected to the internet that maintains a series of web pages on the World Wide Web; a computer connected to the internet that maint…

Willownoun

a textile machine having a system of revolving spikes for opening and cleaning raw textile fibers

Bindernoun

a machine that cuts grain and binds it in sheaves

Chat roomnoun

a site on the internet where a number of users can communicate in real time (typically one dedicated to a particular topic)

Chatroomnoun

a site on the internet where a number of users can communicate in real time (typically one dedicated to a particular topic)

Combinenoun

harvester that heads and threshes and cleans grain while moving across the field

Dot matrix printernoun

a printer that represents each character as a pattern of dots from a dot matrix