adj
hydraulic
heye-DRO-lihk
adj
1
Operated by the pressure of a liquid moving through pipes or cylinders.
"The digger's bucket is raised and lowered by a hydraulic arm."
How to Use Hydraulic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPowered by liquid pressure pushed through pipes, rather than by electricity or plain mechanics.
Common pairings
hydraulic brakes
hydraulic press
hydraulic lift
Word Forms
hydraulicked past tense, hydraulics singular
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The digger's bucket is raised and lowered by a _____ arm.
Etymology
From Greek hydraulikos, describing a "water organ" — an ancient musical instrument powered by water pressure — built from hydor ("water") and aulos ("pipe").