MECHANISTIC

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does mechanistic mean? 

• MECHANISTIC (adjective)
  The adjective MECHANISTIC has 2 senses:

1. explained in terms of physical forces

2. of or relating to the philosophical theory of mechanism

  Familiarity information: MECHANISTIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MECHANISTIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Explained in terms of physical forces

Context example:

a mechanistic universe

Similar:

mechanical (using (or as if using) mechanisms or tools or devices)

Derivation:

mechanism (a natural object resembling a machine in structure or function)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to the philosophical theory of mechanism

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

mechanism ((philosophy) the philosophical theory that all phenomena can be explained in terms of physical or biological causes)

Derivation:

mechanism ((philosophy) the philosophical theory that all phenomena can be explained in terms of physical or biological causes)

 Context examples 

MTA3 is the mechanistic link between estrogen receptor status and invasive growth of breast cancers.

(MTA3 Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

The length of the miRNA is ~22 nucleotides, and the 3' UTR is the mechanistic path of regulation.

(Let-7, NCI Thesaurus)

These methods allow epidemiologists to address issues like non-experimental studies of mechanistic questions in disease etiology, including studies of the impact of the social position of individuals in different social contexts.

(Epidemiological Method, NCI Thesaurus)

Although it is unclear whether zinc deficiency contributes to autism, scientists have now defined in detail a possible mechanistic link.

(Zinc Deficiency during Pregnancy Linked to Autism in Babies, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Our work provides new mechanistic insights into the long-standing question of why olive products can be anti- diabetic, said Bin Xu, lead author, assistant professor of biochemistry in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and a Fralin Life Science Institute affiliate.

(Health Benefits of Olives and Olive Oil, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)