| exploded view |
a photograph, drawing, illustration, or diagram that displays the individual parts of a mechanism separately but indicates their proper relationship. |
| fail-safe |
protected against failure or breakdown, as by a compensatory or back-up mechanism that begins to function automatically in an emergency. [2/5 definitions] |
| feed |
a mechanism that supplies something to a process. [1/13 definitions] |
| flasher |
a mechanism that causes an electric light to go on and off automatically. [1/2 definitions] |
| flintlock |
an obsolete gun mechanism in which a flint strikes steel, making a spark that ignites the priming powder. [2 definitions] |
| forward |
the state of a mechanism that causes forward movement, esp. a gear in an automobile transmission. (Cf. reverse.) [1/13 definitions] |
| freewheel |
to continue in motion with the wheels detached from the driving mechanism; coast. [1/4 definitions] |
| freewheeling |
pertaining to, working like, or equipped with a device that disengages the driving mechanism, as on the rear wheel of a bicycle or in the clutch of an automobile. [1/2 definitions] |
| gunlock |
the mechanism in some firearms by which the charge is exploded. |
| mainspring |
the principal spring in a mechanism such as a timepiece, that provides motive force by uncoiling. [1/2 definitions] |
| mechanical advantage |
the ratio of the output force exerted by a mechanism to the input force applied to it, used to rate the performance of a machine. |
| mechanics |
the technical or automatic aspects or parts of a thing or activity; mechanism or routine. [1/3 definitions] |
| mimetic |
relating to, showing, or characterized by mimicry, often as a protective biological mechanism. |
| player piano |
an automatic piano that plays by means of a perforated paper roll that signals a pneumatic mechanism to depress the keys. |
| pullback |
a mechanism designed to pull something back or keep it from moving forward. [1/2 definitions] |
| recall |
a mechanism by which government officials can be removed from office by the voters. [1/6 definitions] |
| reverse |
the state of a mechanism that brings about reverse movement, esp. a gear of an automobile transmission. (Cf. forward.) [1/15 definitions] |
| Rube Goldberg |
designating a very complicated mechanism contrived to perform a simple task. |
| safety |
a locking mechanism, as on a gun, to prevent accidental harm or injury. [1/4 definitions] |
| screwdriver |
a tool for turning a screw, consisting of a shank that fits the head of the screw and a handle or mechanism for turning the shank. [1/2 definitions] |
| self-winding |
of a watch or clock, wound automatically by an internal mechanism. |