mechanism

mech•an•ism n. [countable]

Mechanical Engineeringan assembly of moving parts performing a function:The alarm mechanism is jammed.
the way or means by which an effect is produced:the language learning mechanism in the human brain.
a procedure within an organization:What is the mechanism for adjusting the bylaws?
Psychiatrya manner of behaving that helps one deal with the environment:His amnesia was a defense mechanism.

See -mech-.

mech•an•ism n.

Mechanical Engineeringan assembly of moving parts performing a complete functional motion, often being part of a large machine;
linkage.
the agency or means by which an effect is produced or a purpose is accomplished.
Mechanical Engineeringmachinery or mechanical appliances in general.
Mechanical Engineeringthe structure or arrangement of parts of a machine or similar device, or of anything analogous.
Mechanical Engineeringthe mechanical part of something;
any mechanical device:the mechanism of a clock.
routine methods or procedures;
mechanics:the mechanism of government.
mechanical execution, as in painting or music;
technique.
Philosophythe theory that everything in the universe is produced by matter in motion;
materialism. Cf. dynamism (def. 1), vitalism (def. 1).
Philosophy
- the view that all natural processes are explicable in terms of Newtonian mechanics.
- the view that all biological processes may be described in physicochemical terms.
Psychiatrythe habitual operation and interaction of psychological forces within an individual that assist in interpreting or dealing with the physical or psychological environment.

mech′a•nis′mic, adj.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mechanism /ˈmɛkəˌnɪzəm/ n

a system or structure of moving parts that performs some function, esp in a machine
something resembling a machine in the arrangement and working of its parts
any form of mechanical device or any part of such a device
a process or technique, esp of execution: the mechanism of novel writing
- the doctrine that human action can be explained in purely physical terms, whether mechanical or biological
- strict determinism Compare dynamism, vitalism
- the ways in which psychological forces interact and operate
- a structure having an influence on the behaviour of a person, such as a defence mechanism

'mechanism' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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