Definition of hydraulic
1 : operated, moved, or effected by means of water
2a : of or relating to hydraulics hydraulic engineerb : 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
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Recent Examples of hydraulic from the Web
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At full operating capacity, the facility features a series of hydraulic panels and inflatable bladders that are used in sync to create the waves (the staff has years of notes, calibrating waves at different river levels.)
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The outside air may be contaminated with engine oil, hydraulic fluid, engine exhaust, ground service vehicle exhaust, fuel, de-icing fluid, or ozone.
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But the U.S. has experienced an energy renaissance of sorts in the past decade thanks largely to an oil and gas boom that followed advances in hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking.
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Among the modern features are full suspensions that support the seat and the front forks, and hydraulic brakes that can be operated with one finger.
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An Idaho Power employee perched atop the building during the trip, said the paper, lifting the wires over the church with the help of a hydraulic hoist and a couple of co-workers.
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Unlike the four-leg, wooden chairs usually associated with breaking under brobdingnagian bulk, the Hazen Mesh Task chair sits on a hydraulic base with five chrome wheel legs.
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Using techniques such as hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling, companies have ramped up production in shale oil formations such as the Permian Basin in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico.
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Mechatronics majors focus on developing of the electromechanical products that are ubiquitous in modern life, dealing with interconnections that allow electronic control of mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
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.
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.
Origin and Etymology of hydraulic
Latin hydraulicus, from Greek hydraulikos, from hydraulis hydraulic organ, from hydr- + aulos reed instrument — more at alveolus
HYDRAULIC Defined for English Language Learners
hydraulic
playDefinition of hydraulic for English Language Learners
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: operated by the pressure of a fluid
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: occurring or used in a hydraulic system
HYDRAULIC Defined for Kids
hydraulic
playDefinition of hydraulic for Students
1 : operated, moved, or brought about by means of water hydraulic pressure
2 : operated by liquid forced through a small hole or through a tube hydraulic brakes
hydraulically
\-li-kə-lē\ adverbLearn More about hydraulic
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Spanish Central: Translation of hydraulic Nglish: Translation of hydraulic for Spanish speakers
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