Other forms: mechanisms
A mechanism is the working parts of a device, or how a process runs. The locking mechanism, a defence mechanism, the mechanism of the disease.
In science it means the how rather than the what: knowing that a drug works is one thing and knowing the mechanism is another and harder. In psychology, a defence mechanism is an unconscious way of handling something too painful to face.
1nounmechanismThe working parts of a device, or how a process runs.
“The lock's mechanism was jammed, so the key wouldn't turn.”
mechanism is a working.
Ancient Greek
μηχᾰνή — machine
New Latin
mechanismus
English, today
mechanism
Learned borrowing from New Latin mechanismus, from Ancient Greek μηχᾰνή (“machine”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA