ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mechanic

n.
US //məˈkænɪk// UK //mɪkˈænɪk// me·chan·ic
  1. 1 vehicle repairer (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    someone whose job is to repair and maintain machines, especially the engines of cars and other vehicles.

    a technician who repairs and maintains machinery, particularly the internal combustion engines and mechanical systems of motor vehicles.

    Example

    I took my car to the mechanic because the engine was making a strange noise.

    Example

    The lead mechanic diagnosed the transmission failure within minutes, noting that the previous owner had neglected routine maintenance for several years.
  2. 2 system or process (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    the way that something works or the steps in a process.

    the functional parts or logical sequence of a system, often used to describe how a specific process is executed.

    Example

    The mechanics of the new voting system are quite easy to understand.

    Example

    Economists are still debating the underlying mechanics of the market crash, specifically how automated trading algorithms accelerated the decline.
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  1. 3 game rules (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    the specific rules and actions that players use to interact with a game.

    the rules and procedures that guide player interaction and determine the outcome within a game system.

    Example

    The game has great graphics, but the combat mechanics feel a bit slow.

    Example

    The developers spent months balancing the resource-gathering mechanics to ensure that veteran players didn't have an unfair advantage over newcomers.
  2. 4 card cheat (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang Technical Gambling

    a person who is very skilled at using their hands to cheat at card games.

    a person who uses high-level manual dexterity to manipulate playing cards or dice for the purpose of cheating.

    Example

    The casino security watched the man closely, suspecting he was a professional mechanic.

    Example

    In the world of underground poker, a skilled mechanic can deal a winning hand to an accomplice without any of the other players noticing the sleight of hand.
  3. 5 hitman (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang

    a professional killer or assassin.

    a professional assassin or hitman, often used within the context of organised crime.

    Example

    In the movie, the main character is a cold-blooded mechanic for the mob.

    Example

    The crime novel depicts the life of a veteran mechanic who begins to regret his violent career after a job goes wrong.
Origin

From Middle English mekanyk (“mechanical”), from Old French mecanique, from Latin mechanicus (“of or belonging to machines or mechanics, inventive”), from Ancient Greek μηχανικός (mēkhanikós, “pertaining to machines or contrivance, mechanic, ingenious, inventive”), from μηχανή (mēkhanḗ, “a machine, contrivance”); see machine.

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