hydraulic
adjective
hy·drau·lic
hī-ˈdrȯ-lik 
1
: operated, moved, or effected by means of water
2
a
: 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
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
Rounding out the key specs are 11-speed Shimano gears, four-piston Magura hydraulic disc brakes, alloy flatbar, Selle Royal saddle and an overall bike weight of 35 kg (77 lb).
—
New Atlas, 12 Sep. 2025
Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has released a nineteen-second video of ARMstrong Dex – the human-scale, dual-arm hydraulic robot developed for disaster-response applications.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
The Dominator 3, at its base a Ford F-350, features an armored shell and skirting designed to keep winds from lifting the vehicle; strong windows, equipment for tracking weather data and a hydraulic spike system used to anchor the vehicle to the ground.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
An Air Force investigation blamed the crash on ice in the hydraulic lines in the nose and main landing gears of the F-35, which prevented them from deploying properly.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hydraulic
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New Atlas, 12 Sep. 2025
Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has released a nineteen-second video of ARMstrong Dex – the human-scale, dual-arm hydraulic robot developed for disaster-response applications.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
The Dominator 3, at its base a Ford F-350, features an armored shell and skirting designed to keep winds from lifting the vehicle; strong windows, equipment for tracking weather data and a hydraulic spike system used to anchor the vehicle to the ground.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
An Air Force investigation blamed the crash on ice in the hydraulic lines in the nose and main landing gears of the F-35, which prevented them from deploying properly.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hydraulic
Cite this Entry
“Hydraulic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydraulic. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hydraulic
adjective
hy·drau·lic
hī-ˈdrȯ-lik
1
: operated, moved, or brought about by means of water
2
: of or relating to hydraulics
hydraulic engineer
3
: operated by pressure transmitted when a quantity of liquid is forced through a small hole or through a tube
hydraulic brakes
4
: hardening or setting under water
hydraulic cement
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