Meaning & use
hydraulics
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountabletechnical
The branch of science and engineering that deals with liquids under pressure and how they produce force.
Grammar: Takes a singular verb when it means the subject: 'Hydraulics is difficult.'
Patterns
- study hydraulics
- principles of hydraulics
- hydraulics is
She studied hydraulics as part of her engineering degree.
Hydraulics is used to design brakes, lifts, and excavators.
The course covers the basic principles of hydraulics.
nounpluraltechnical
The parts of a machine or vehicle that use liquid pressure to move things.
Grammar: Plural in this sense: 'The hydraulics are broken.'
Patterns
- the hydraulics are
- check the hydraulics
- hydraulics failure
The hydraulics on the tractor failed, so the loader would not move.
He checked the hydraulics before starting the machine.
A leak in the hydraulics can make the controls feel stiff.
Common combinations
- principles of hydraulics
- The manual explains the principles of hydraulics in simple terms.
- hydraulics system
- The hydraulics system needs new fluid.
- hydraulics failure
- A hydraulics failure forced the plane to land early.
- study hydraulics
- You must study hydraulics to work on heavy machinery.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fluid power
- A broader term that includes both hydraulics and pneumatics.
Word family
- hydraulic adjective
- Operated by liquid under pressure.
- hydraulically adverb
- In a hydraulic way.
Commonly confused: hydraulics or pneumatics?
hydraulics vs pneumatics
Pneumatics uses air or gas under pressure, while hydraulics uses liquid.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
When hydraulics names the field of study, it takes a singular verb: 'Hydraulics is...'. 'Hydraulics are' is used only for the parts of a machine.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hydraulics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.