hydraulic

adjective

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hy·drau·lic | \ hī-ˈdrȯ-lik

Definition of hydraulic

1 : operated, moved, or effected by means of water

2a : of or relating to hydraulics hydraulic engineer

b : of or relating to water or other liquid in motion hydraulic erosion

3 : operated by the resistance offered or the pressure transmitted when a quantity of liquid (such as water or oil) is forced through a comparatively small orifice or through a tube hydraulic brakes

4 : hardening or setting under water hydraulic cement

Other Words from hydraulic Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about hydraulic

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Did You Know?

By means of a hydraulic lift, the driver can lift the bed of a dump truck with the touch of a button. He might also repair the hydraulic steering, the hydraulic brake, or the hydraulic clutch—all of which, like the lift that holds everything up, take advantage of the way liquids act under pressure. Somewhat like a pulley or a lever, a hydraulic system magnifies the effect of moderate pressure exerted over a longer distance into powerful energy for a shorter distance.

Examples of hydraulic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There were no air hoses or electrical cables leaving the body; completely self-contained, the AbioCor used hydraulic fluid, which could be recirculated, to squeeze its ventricles. — Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, "How to Build an Artificial Heart," 1 Mar. 2021 Troublingly, this hydraulic system had already been checked to some extent in a previous test. — Asa Stahl, Chron, "We need to get to the moon by 2024. Will this rocket be able to take us there?," 24 Feb. 2021 Its hydraulic suspension system, a type often used in trains, eases jolts. — Sophie Bushwick, Scientific American, "Will Trackless Trams Gain Traction in the U.S.?," 24 Feb. 2021 Pilots practice how to deal with such an event frequently and would have immediately shut off anything flammable in the engine, including fuel and hydraulic fluid, using a single switch, Cox said. — Author: Gillian Flaccus, David Zalubowski, Anchorage Daily News, "Debris falls from United plane during emergency landing after engine failure near Denver," 21 Feb. 2021 Pilots practice how to deal with such an event frequently and would have immediately shut off anything flammable in the engine, including fuel and hydraulic fluid, using a single switch, Cox said. — Gillian Flaccus And David Zalubowski, chicagotribune.com, "Plane engine parts fall from sky, leaving passengers, Denver suburb shaken: ‘I thought we were going down’," 21 Feb. 2021 Pilots practice how to deal with such an event frequently and would have immediately shut off anything flammable in the engine, including fuel and hydraulic fluid using a single switch, Cox said. — Gillian Flaccus, sun-sentinel.com, "Debris falls from sky over Denver after Boeing 777 engine catches fire before emergency landing; no injuries reported | Videos," 20 Feb. 2021 Pilots practice how to deal with such an event frequently and would have immediately shut off anything flammable in the engine, including fuel and hydraulic fluid, using a single switch, Cox said. — Gillian Flaccus And David Zalubowski, Star Tribune, "'I thought we were done': Parts fall from sky in plane scare," 20 Feb. 2021 The leak filled the machine room and elevators with water, sending hydraulic fluid into the street. — Charlie Mckenna, BostonGlobe.com, "Water leak causes chemical spill in South Boston parking garage," 18 Feb. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hydraulic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.