physical

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word physical. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word physical, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say physical in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word physical you have here. The definition of the word physical will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofphysical, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin physicālis, from Latin physica (study of nature), from Ancient Greek φυσική (phusikḗ), feminine singular of φυσικός (phusikós, natural; physical), from φύσις (phúsis, origin, birth; nature, quality; form, shape; type, kind), from φῠ́ω (phúō, grow), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (to appear, become, rise up).

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈfɪzɪkəl/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Adjective

physical (comparative more physical, superlative most physical)

  1. Of medicine.
    1. (obsolete) Pertaining to the field of medicine; medical.
    2. (obsolete) That practises medicine; pertaining to doctors, physicianly.
      • 1788, Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary: A Fiction:
        Her father was thrown from his horse, when his blood was in a very inflammatory state, and the bruises were very dangerous; his recovery was not expected by the physical tribe.
    3. (obsolete) Medicinal; good for the health, curative, therapeutic.
  2. Of matter and nature.
    1. Pertaining to the world as understood through the senses rather than the mind; tangible, concrete; real. Having to do with the material world.
      It's not so much a physical place as a state of mind.
    2. In accordance with the laws of nature; now specifically, pertaining to physics.
      • 2012 January, Michael Riordan, “Tackling Infinity”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 30 April 2013, page 86:
        Some of the most beautiful and thus appealing physical theories, including quantum electrodynamics and quantum gravity, have been dogged for decades by infinities that erupt when theorists try to prod their calculations into new domains.
      The substance has a number of interesting physical properties.
    3. Denoting a map showing natural features of the landscape (compare political).
  3. Of the human body.
    1. Having to do with the body as opposed to the mind; corporeal, bodily.
      Are you feeling any physical effects?
    2. Sexual, carnal.
    3. Involving bodily force or contact; vigorous, aggressive.
      This team plays a very physical game, so watch out.

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

physical (plural physicals)

  1. Physical examination.
    Synonyms: checkup, check-up
    How long has it been since your last physical?
  2. (parapsychology) A physical manifestation of psychic origin, as through ectoplasmic solidification.

Translations