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mechanical engineering

mechanical engineering

9 3.9
The study of how to design, build, and use machines like engines and tools
  • noun
  • /mɪˈkænɪkəl ˌɛnʤɪˈnɪrɪŋ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ingeniería mecánica
  • She decided to study mechanical engineering because she wanted to design innovative machines.
  • mechanical engineering professor
  • degree in mechanical engineering
  • mechanical engineering department

And so it is important in the mechanical engineering department.

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Examples

  • Jeng has made continuous and significant contributions to the mechanical engineering field through research, education, and leadership activities.

    Academic text (2011)
  • But is this one of the biggest precision mechanical engineering efforts ever?

  • This is not a mechanical engineering class question.

  • There are also two related Mechanical Engineering articles published earlier this year.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Prior to this year, he was on the mechanical engineering faculty at MIT in Cambridge, Mass.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Mulholland is a mechanical engineering professor at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Dani Fadda is a professional engineer in Texas with a successful career in mechanical engineering.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Mr. Hurt earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1947.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Kai H. Luo has made outstanding contributions to mechanical engineering through scholarship, education, and leadership.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Dr. Komanduri began his career in 1972 as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

engineering
vsmechanical engineering
  • Specialized
770 3.7

Work that uses science to design and build machines, structures, or systems

is narrower, focusing on machine design, construction, and operation
mechanology
vsmechanical engineering
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A study of machines and how to make and use them

focuses on designing, building, and operating whole machine systems

How Specialized

automotive engineering
  • Specialized
1 4.4
mechanical engineering
  • Specialized
9 3.9
engineering
  • Specialized
770 3.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

mechanical + engineering

The meaning is directly compositional: 'mechanical' (concerned with machines) modifies 'engineering' (the discipline applying science to design and build), so a learner who knows both words can infer it is the branch of engineering dealing with machines and mechanical systems. This is a standard, cross-linguistically common compound noun phrase and therefore readily understandable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The term mechanical engineering comes from words that mean mechanical ('machine') and engineering ('to design and build'). So it literally means 'designing and building machines', which is why today it refers to the field that designs, makes, and operates machines.