mechanic

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A worker skilled in making, using, or repairing machines, vehicles, and tools.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. Same as mechanical: now used chiefly in the phrase the mechanic arts.
2. Belonging to or characteristic of the class of mechanics; common; vulgar; mean.
3. Supporting the atomistic philosophy.
4. n. Mechanic art; mechanics.
5. n. Mechanism; structure.
6. n. A maker of machines or machinery; hence, any skilled worker with tools; one who has learned a trade; a workman whose occupation consists in the systematic manipulation and constructive shaping or application of materials; an artificer, artisan, or craftsman. To many persons whose business is partly mechanical the term mechanic is inapplicable, as farmers, surgeons, and artists. It implies special training, and is therefore inapplicable to unskilled laborers, though they may be engaged in constructive work.
7. n. One who works mechanically; one who follows routine or rule in an occupation requiring careful thought or study: used opprobriously: as, a mere literary mechanic; the picture shows the artist to be only a mechanic.
8. n. A professional card-shuffler usually employed to deal faro in brace games.

Wiktionary

1. adj. archaic mechanical; relating to the laws of motion in the art of constructing things
2. adj. obsolete Of or relating to a mechanic or artificer, or to the class of artisans; hence, rude; common; vulgar.
3. adj. obsolete base
4. n. A skilled worker capable of building or repairing machinery. A mechanic can be compared to a technician, the distinction being that the technician is stronger in theory, the mechanic stronger in hands-on experience.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. obsolete The art of the application of the laws of motion or force to construction.
2. n. A mechanician; an artisan; an artificer; one who practices any mechanic art; one skilled or employed in shaping and uniting materials, as wood, metal, etc., into any kind of structure, machine, or other object, requiring the use of tools, or instruments. Also, a technician who maintains or repairs machinery.
3. adj. Having to do with the application of the laws of motion in the art of constructing or making things; of or pertaining to mechanics; mechanical.
4. adj. Of or pertaining to a mechanic or artificer, or to the class of artisans; hence, rude; common; vulgar.
5. adj. obsolete Base.

WordNet 3.0

1. adj. resembling the action of a machine
2. n. a craftsman skilled in operating machine tools
3. n. someone whose occupation is repairing and maintaining automobiles