physical Hear it!

physical definition

physi·cal (fiz′i kəl)

adjective

  1. of nature and all matter; natural; material
  2. of natural science or natural philosophy
  3. of or according to the laws of nature
  4. of, or produced by the forces of, physics
    1. of the body as opposed to the mind physical exercise
    2. preoccupied with bodily or sexual pleasures; carnal
    3. of or marked by aggressive or rough play, activity, etc.

Etymology: ME phisical, having to do with medicine < ML physicalis < L physica: see physic

noun

☆ a general medical examination
in full physical examination

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms physical idiom

medical physical definition - medical

telecom physical definition - telecom

physical Synonyms

physical

modif.

  1. Concerning matter

    material, corporeal, visible, tangible, sensible, environmental, palpable, substantial, natural, real, solid, concrete, ponderable, materialistic; see also real 2.

  2. Concerning the body

    bodily, corporal, corporeal, fleshly; see bodily 1.

  3. Concerning physics

    mechanical, motive, electrical, sonic, vibratory, vibrational, thermal, radioactive, radiational, atomic, relating to matter, relating to motive forces, dynamic.

physical applies either to material things as they are perceivable by the senses or to forces that are scientifically measurable the physical world, the physical properties of sound; material is applied to anything that is formed of matter and has substance material objects, material possessions; corporeal applies only to such material objects as have bodily form and are tangible corporeal property; sensible, in this connection, is applied to that which can be known through the senses rather than through the intellect a sensible phenomenon See also syn. study at bodily.


physical

n.

medical checkup, health examination, exam*; see examination 3.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

physical Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • certain: He could convey a certain physical limited in time.

Modifies a noun

  • disability: All private cars specially adapted for drivers with physical disabilities.

Modifying Another Word

  • purely: In a very real sense, we never see the world as something purely physical.

Used with adjective complement

  • encompass: It is a very broad subject, encompassing physical, social and economic disciplines, useful in many careers.
physical usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

physical quotes

I have known no man of genius who had not to pay, in some affliction or defect either physical or spiritual, for what the gods had given him.

-Beerbohm, Sir (Henry) Max(imilian)

God wasgood onthephysical and emotional sides and a great one for hate. He generously spilled his own hate into his dearest creation.

-Wilson

Il de¤  couvrait†le monde des e¤  motions qu'on nomme, a' la le¤  ge'  re, physiques. He was discovering†the world of the emotions that are so lightly called physical.

-Colette full name Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

physical quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"physical." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/physical>

APA Style

physical. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/physical

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