mechanism

Everyday

1. A mechanism is a set of moving parts in a machine that work together, such as the mechanism of a clock or a lock. tree →
2. A mechanism is a way or system by which something happens or is done, as in the body's mechanism for keeping warm. tree →

In the lessons

In design and technology lessons, pupils learn about mechanisms: levers, gears, pulleys, cams, linkages, and make toys with moving parts. In science, the body has mechanisms such as shivering and sweating. In everyday life, a safety mechanism stops a machine from hurting people. A defence mechanism is how animals or people protect themselves.

Examples

• The clock's mechanism is full of tiny gears. tree →
• We made a pop-up card with a lever mechanism. tree →
• Shivering is the body's mechanism for warming up. tree →
• The lock mechanism was jammed. tree →
• A hedgehog's spines are a defence mechanism. tree →
• The toy car has a wind-up mechanism. tree →

Note

Countable. Said MEK-uh-niz-um; ch sounds like k. Related: mechanical, mechanic (a person who fixes cars), mechanics.