mechanical mixture
- noun
- /məˈkænɪkəl ˈmɪkstʃər/
- Specialized
:
mezcla mecánica
- Granite is a good example of a mechanical mixture, as its minerals remain distinct and easily separable.
Examples
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A mechanical mixture can be separated easily.
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Unlike a solution, a mechanical mixture allows its components to be mechanically separated.
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A salad made of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers is considered a mechanical mixture.
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The lab created a mechanical mixture of sand and gravel.
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Salt and sand form a mechanical mixture that can be separated by filtration.
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In the laboratory, the chemist demonstrated how to create a mechanical mixture of various powders.
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The rocks in the bucket represent a mechanical mixture that can easily be sorted by size.
How Separable
- Specialized
- Specialized
6
5.7
- Specialized
1
7.7
- Specialized
99
3.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is compositionally transparent: 'mechanical' (relating to physical or machine-based action) modifies 'mixture' (a combination of components), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a mixture affected or separable by physical/mechanical means. This is a straightforward, technical but predictable combination found across languages, so the meaning is derivable from its parts.
Etymology
Mechanical mixture paints a simple picture: imagine a jar of sand and stones where you can pick out the stones with your fingers or a sieve. Because mechanical here means using physical action and mixture means different parts together, the phrase means a mix whose parts can be 'separated by hand or simple tools'.