Mechanism
noun
A system or process that makes something work.
The mechanism of the clock is broken.
Often appears as...
- mechanism of action
- clock mechanism
noun
A part of a machine, or a set of parts that work together.
The car's braking mechanism is faulty.
Often appears as...
- braking mechanism
- mechanical mechanism
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A way of doing or achieving something.
We are developing a new mechanism for handling complaints.
Often appears as...
- complaint mechanism
- coping mechanism
Usage tips
Academic
noun
In biology, the natural processes in the body that cause particular things to happen.
The precise mechanisms of cell death are still not fully understood.
Often appears as...
- survival mechanism
- cell mechanism
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A system or process that makes something work.
The mechanism of the clock is broken.
Often appears as...
- mechanism of action
- clock mechanism
noun
A part of a machine, or a set of parts that work together.
The car's braking mechanism is faulty.
Often appears as...
- braking mechanism
- mechanical mechanism
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A way of doing or achieving something.
We are developing a new mechanism for handling complaints.
Often appears as...
- complaint mechanism
- coping mechanism
Usage tips
Academic
noun
In biology, the natural processes in the body that cause particular things to happen.
The precise mechanisms of cell death are still not fully understood.
Often appears as...
- survival mechanism
- cell mechanism
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Functional Purpose
Think of 'mechanism' as the heart of a function, essential for operation.
Without a proper mechanism, the software cannot process data.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Always Physical
'Mechanism' isn't limited to tangible systems; it can refer to abstract processes.
The mechanism behind the program's success was its unique marketing strategy.
Pro Tip 1/2Functional Purpose
Think of 'mechanism' as the heart of a function, essential for operation.
Without a proper mechanism, the software cannot process data.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Always Physical
'Mechanism' isn't limited to tangible systems; it can refer to abstract processes.
The mechanism behind the program's success was its unique marketing strategy.
Pro Tip 1/2Functional Purpose
Think of 'mechanism' as the heart of a function, essential for operation.
Without a proper mechanism, the software cannot process data.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Always Physical
'Mechanism' isn't limited to tangible systems; it can refer to abstract processes.
The mechanism behind the program's success was its unique marketing strategy.
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Video examples
Why do we cry? The three...
such as an increased heart rate and slower breathing. But scientists still aren't sure exactly how or why the tears themselves are helpful. They may be a social mechanism to elicit sympathy or show submission. But some studies have also found that emotional tears contain higher levels of stress hormones,
Video examples
Why do animals have such...
So, it has evolved to grow and reproduce more rapidly, like an evolutionary defense mechanism against its shorter lifespan. Larger animals, by contrast, are better at fending off predators, and so they have the luxury of time to grow to large sizes and reproduce multiple times during their lives.
Video examples
Is there a disease that...
which probably makes them more likely to cross paths with a cat and help the parasite complete its life cycle. How does the parasite pull this off? Although the exact mechanism isn't known, toxo appears to increase dopamine, a brain neurotransmitter that is involved in novelty-seeking behavior.
Video examples
How does cancer spread...
Understanding the exact mechanism holds an important key to finding a cure for advanced stage cancers. By studying both the genetic and environmental factors, which contribute to successful metastasis, we can pinpoint ways to shut down the process. The war against cancer is a constant struggle,
Video examples
Why do we hiccup? - John...
Anatomical structures, or physiological mechanisms, with no apparent purpose present challenges to evolutionary biologists. Do such structures serve some hidden function that hasn't yet been discovered? Or are they relics of our evolutionary past, having once served some important purpose
Video examples
What makes muscles grow?...
help shift the body into a state where tissue is repaired and grown. This vital repair process mainly occurs when we're resting, especially at night while sleeping. Gender and age affect this repair mechanism, which is why young men with more testosterone
Video examples
Are China and the US...
an Asia-Pacific community. And worldwide, act further, like you've begun to do at the end of last year by striking out against climate change with hands joined together rather than fists apart. Of course, all that happens if you've got a common mechanism
Video examples
Brain 101 PIPE National...
The brain has even evolved mechanisms to protect itself. One such mechanism is the blood-brain barrier, a semipermeable cellular wall that only allows specific chemicals to enter from the body's bloodstream into the brain. Despite this protection,
Video examples
Should Primates be Kept...
he still does that behaviour now because again these coping mechanisms, these abnormal behaviours that they have are life long. Luckily they're reducing a lot. We've met quite a few of them. Are there any primates here that, you know,
Video examples
How to deal with...
to develop coping mechanisms when I was a child the back and forth and the push and pull of affection was emotional whiplash you're wonderful you're horrible I love you I hate you I had to
Video examples
Why do we cry? The three...
such as an increased heart rate and slower breathing. But scientists still aren't sure exactly how or why the tears themselves are helpful. They may be a social mechanism to elicit sympathy or show submission. But some studies have also found that emotional tears contain higher levels of stress hormones,
Video examples
Why do animals have such...
So, it has evolved to grow and reproduce more rapidly, like an evolutionary defense mechanism against its shorter lifespan. Larger animals, by contrast, are better at fending off predators, and so they have the luxury of time to grow to large sizes and reproduce multiple times during their lives.
Video examples
Is there a disease that...
which probably makes them more likely to cross paths with a cat and help the parasite complete its life cycle. How does the parasite pull this off? Although the exact mechanism isn't known, toxo appears to increase dopamine, a brain neurotransmitter that is involved in novelty-seeking behavior.
Video examples
How does cancer spread...
Understanding the exact mechanism holds an important key to finding a cure for advanced stage cancers. By studying both the genetic and environmental factors, which contribute to successful metastasis, we can pinpoint ways to shut down the process. The war against cancer is a constant struggle,
Video examples
Why do we hiccup? - John...
Anatomical structures, or physiological mechanisms, with no apparent purpose present challenges to evolutionary biologists. Do such structures serve some hidden function that hasn't yet been discovered? Or are they relics of our evolutionary past, having once served some important purpose
Video examples
What makes muscles grow?...
help shift the body into a state where tissue is repaired and grown. This vital repair process mainly occurs when we're resting, especially at night while sleeping. Gender and age affect this repair mechanism, which is why young men with more testosterone
Video examples
Are China and the US...
an Asia-Pacific community. And worldwide, act further, like you've begun to do at the end of last year by striking out against climate change with hands joined together rather than fists apart. Of course, all that happens if you've got a common mechanism
Video examples
Brain 101 PIPE National...
The brain has even evolved mechanisms to protect itself. One such mechanism is the blood-brain barrier, a semipermeable cellular wall that only allows specific chemicals to enter from the body's bloodstream into the brain. Despite this protection,
Video examples
Should Primates be Kept...
he still does that behaviour now because again these coping mechanisms, these abnormal behaviours that they have are life long. Luckily they're reducing a lot. We've met quite a few of them. Are there any primates here that, you know,
Video examples
How to deal with...
to develop coping mechanisms when I was a child the back and forth and the push and pull of affection was emotional whiplash you're wonderful you're horrible I love you I hate you I had to
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Bill Gates
American Businessman
Well the protester I think is a very powerful thing. It's basically a mechanism of democracy that, along with capitalism, scientific innovation, those things have built the modern world. And it's wonderful that the new tools have empowered that protestor so that state secrets, bad developments are not hidden anymore.
Quote examples
James Murphy
American Musician
I suppose what happened is that I spent my whole life wanting to be cool but eventually came to recognise the mechanism of how coolness works. So it's not really that I don't want to be cool anymore - it's more like I've come to realise that coolness doesn't exist the way I once assumed.
Quote examples
Indya Moore
American Actor
Both 'Saturday Church' and 'Pose' are incredible because they demonstrate something essential about survival. When you get pushed hard enough by certain circumstances, your survival mechanism kicks in, and you grow into the things that you need or are missing in your life.
Quote examples
Hope Jahren
American Scientist
I think being a scientist is a position of respect and power and access, and it's a privileged position in society. And I think there are fundamental mechanisms that keep men and women from achieving the same level of power and access and privilege in society.
Quote examples
James Corden
English Actor
This arrogance thing... I've had that my whole life. I flip between, 'Oh really? Oh, thank you. Wow. That's amazing' and, 'Yeah! Of course I am.' They're both varying degrees of a self-defence mechanism. It can be from minute to minute that I change.
Quote examples
Ian Gomez
American Actor
As a child, one of my defense mechanisms was to try to be funny. My mom tried to nurture that by putting me in acting class. But I got bored when we stopped pretending to be trees and actually had to work.
Quote examples
Garry Kasparov
Celebrity
There are many facts showing that Putin's people enriched themselves by using power mechanisms so that's why for them losing power means losing their fortunes.
Quote examples
Emmanuel Jal
Sudanese Musician
A cold heart is my protection mechanism. I don't really feel anything for anyone.
Quote examples
Thundercat
American Musician
Comedy is a coping mechanism, and it helps us stay alive.
Quote examples
Baron Davis
American Athlete
I think sports is the healing mechanism around the world.
Quote examples
Bill Gates
American Businessman
Well the protester I think is a very powerful thing. It's basically a mechanism of democracy that, along with capitalism, scientific innovation, those things have built the modern world. And it's wonderful that the new tools have empowered that protestor so that state secrets, bad developments are not hidden anymore.
Quote examples
James Murphy
American Musician
I suppose what happened is that I spent my whole life wanting to be cool but eventually came to recognise the mechanism of how coolness works. So it's not really that I don't want to be cool anymore - it's more like I've come to realise that coolness doesn't exist the way I once assumed.
Quote examples
Indya Moore
American Actor
Both 'Saturday Church' and 'Pose' are incredible because they demonstrate something essential about survival. When you get pushed hard enough by certain circumstances, your survival mechanism kicks in, and you grow into the things that you need or are missing in your life.
Quote examples
Hope Jahren
American Scientist
I think being a scientist is a position of respect and power and access, and it's a privileged position in society. And I think there are fundamental mechanisms that keep men and women from achieving the same level of power and access and privilege in society.
Quote examples
James Corden
English Actor
This arrogance thing... I've had that my whole life. I flip between, 'Oh really? Oh, thank you. Wow. That's amazing' and, 'Yeah! Of course I am.' They're both varying degrees of a self-defence mechanism. It can be from minute to minute that I change.
Quote examples
Ian Gomez
American Actor
As a child, one of my defense mechanisms was to try to be funny. My mom tried to nurture that by putting me in acting class. But I got bored when we stopped pretending to be trees and actually had to work.
Quote examples
Garry Kasparov
Celebrity
There are many facts showing that Putin's people enriched themselves by using power mechanisms so that's why for them losing power means losing their fortunes.
Quote examples
Emmanuel Jal
Sudanese Musician
A cold heart is my protection mechanism. I don't really feel anything for anyone.
Quote examples
Thundercat
American Musician
Comedy is a coping mechanism, and it helps us stay alive.
Quote examples
Baron Davis
American Athlete
I think sports is the healing mechanism around the world.
Example 1 of 10
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