# pneumatic

/nuˈmætɪk/ (US) · /njuːmˈætɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pneumatic
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. powered by air

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing a tool or machine that works using air pressure.

For teachers: operated by air or other gases under pressure. This is the most common modern application of the term.

- The workers used a pneumatic drill to break up the old road.
- The factory upgraded to a pneumatic conveyor system to move delicate components without the friction associated with mechanical belts.

### 2. filled with air

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

containing air or having air-filled spaces inside.

For teachers: containing air or having cavities filled with air. In zoology, it describes the hollow bones of birds.

- Birds have pneumatic bones which help make them light enough to fly.
- The evolution of pneumatic skeletal structures in theropod dinosaurs is considered a key precursor to the development of avian flight.

### 3. spiritual

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Academic

relating to the spirit or the soul rather than the physical body.

For teachers: relating to the pneuma, spirit, or soul. Often used in theological or philosophical contexts to distinguish the spiritual from the material.

- The philosopher discussed the pneumatic nature of the human soul.
- The text explores the pneumatic dimensions of early Christian thought, contrasting the life of the spirit with purely physical existence.

### 4. spiritual person

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

in some old religious groups, a person who is very focused on spiritual things.

For teachers: in Gnostic systems, a person belonging to the highest of three classes of human beings, characterized by spiritual perfection.

- The ancient text describes the pneumatic as one who has found true wisdom.
- Valentinian Gnosticism categorized humanity into three tiers, with the pneumatic occupying the summit due to their inherent capacity for divine knowledge.

## Examples

- The workers used a pneumatic drill to break the concrete.
- Most heavy trucks use pneumatic braking systems because compressed air provides more reliable stopping power than hydraulic fluid alone.
- The factory's automation relies on a complex network of pneumatic cylinders that move components along the assembly line with high speed and precision.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.