Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun mechanism

5 senses of mechanism

Sense 1
mechanism, chemical mechanism -- (the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction; "he determined unique mechanisms for the photochemical reactions")
       => chemical process, chemical change, chemical action -- ((chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved)

Sense 2
mechanism, mechanics -- (the technical aspects of doing something; "a mechanism of social control"; "mechanisms of communication"; "the mechanics of prose style")
       => performance, execution, carrying out, carrying into action -- (the act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it; "they criticised his performance as mayor"; "experience generally improves performance")

Sense 3
mechanism -- (a natural object resembling a machine in structure or function; "the mechanism of the ear"; "the mechanism of infection")
       => natural object -- (an object occurring naturally; not made by man)

Sense 4
mechanism -- ((philosophy) the philosophical theory that all phenomena can be explained in terms of physical or biological causes)
       => philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory -- (a doctrine accepted by adherents to a philosophy)

Sense 5
mechanism -- (device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function)
       => device -- (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water")