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automobile mechanic

automobile mechanic

1 2.6
A person who fixes and looks after cars
  • noun
  • /ˌɔːtəməˈbiːl məˈkænɪk/
translation icon : mecánico de automóviles
  • The surprising thing about my personal observations is that I am highly academically inclined, and yet when I have work that needs to be done, I depend upon good, reliable automobile mechanics to keep my car.

Examples

  • His uncle was an automobile mechanic, disciplined, ethical, and religious, and he never asked me once to explain my urgent need for a place to live.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • An automobile mechanic can take out a malfunctioning part and examine it, then replace it in the system and turn on the engine to troubleshoot the problem.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Still others will become needed carpenters, plumbers, automobile mechanics, and other highly valued individuals.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The automobile mechanic quickly diagnosed the issue with my car and repaired it in no time.

  • After the accident, I took my vehicle to an experienced automobile mechanic for a thorough inspection.

  • Finding a trustworthy automobile mechanic is essential for maintaining the longevity of your car.

Synonyms

mechanic
vsautomobile mechanic
188 2.3

A person who repairs machines like cars and engines

is limited specifically to vehicles rather than machinery in general
repairman
vsautomobile mechanic
33 2.7

A person who fixes broken machines and equipment

is specific to vehicle repair rather than general equipment
fixer
vsautomobile mechanic
6 3.6

A skilled worker who repairs things in houses and apartments

is concentrated on vehicle systems rather than many item types
grease monkey
vsautomobile mechanic
  • Offensive
5 7.7

A person who repairs cars and other machines

is the neutral professional term rather than slang
car mechanic
vsautomobile mechanic
3 2.7

A person who fixes and looks after cars

is the same role but uses a longer formal vehicle term
auto-mechanic
vsautomobile mechanic
1 3.2

A person who repairs and looks after cars

is identical in meaning but usually appears without a hyphen
mech
vsautomobile mechanic
  • Informal
1 8.5

A person who fixes cars and other machines

is the full, neutral occupational term rather than slang
repairer
vsautomobile mechanic
1 3.0

A person who fixes broken things, often as a job

is limited to vehicle repair work rather than general restoration tasks
shop mechanic
vsautomobile mechanic
1 3.2

A skilled person who repairs and looks after machines in a workshop

is centered on vehicle repair rather than general industrial machinery
wrencher
vsautomobile mechanic
7.7

A person who uses a wrench to fix machines

focuses on vehicles rather than tool use or general machinery
shopman
vsautomobile mechanic
  • Archaic
5.5

A worker in a workshop who repairs machines

is specialized in vehicle maintenance rather than general workshop duties
repairwoman
vsautomobile mechanic
3.3

A woman who fixes machines, equipment, or buildings

is focused on vehicle upkeep rather than buildings or general fixes

How Skilled

automobile mechanic
1 2.6
trainee
50 2.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

automobile + mechanic

The meaning is transparently compositional: 'automobile' (car) + 'mechanic' (worker who repairs mechanical equipment) straightforwardly yields 'a person who repairs automobiles.' This is a regular noun–noun compound found across languages and follows an expected pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.

Etymology

Automobile mechanic comes from the early days of the car: automobile meant a motor car and mechanic meant someone who worked with machines, so picture a person with tools leaning over an engine to fix it. That's why automobile mechanic means 'a person who repairs and looks after cars'.