Hydraulic

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Hydraulic

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

adjective

Pronunciation

hy-DRAW-lik  /haɪˈdrɔːlɪk/

Definition

Of or relating to water or other liquids in motion; operated by, moved by, or employing water or liquid under pressure; relating to hydraulics as a science or engineering discipline.

Plain meaning

Hydraulic means powered by or related to pressurised liquid. Hydraulic machinery uses pressurised fluid — usually oil — to generate enormous force: hydraulic brakes, hydraulic lifts, hydraulic excavators. The science of hydraulics studies the properties and behaviour of liquids in motion.

Register

Technical in engineering contexts; neutral in everyday use. Hydraulic brakes, hydraulic excavator, hydraulic press, and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) are the most common everyday applications. Hydraulics as a discipline covers both the theoretical (fluid mechanics) and applied (hydraulic engineering) branches.