hydraulics

Definition

The engineering science of making liquids do heavy lifting, literally. This is why your car's brakes work and why construction equipment can lift objects that would make mere mortals weep. It's essentially the art of pressurizing fluids to create mechanical advantage, which sounds boring until you realize it's what makes monster trucks bounce.

Example Usage

The mechanic explained that the hydraulics system in my vintage car had failed, which is why my convertible top now makes a sad wheezing sound instead of elegantly retracting.

Source: Engineering terminology via Free Dictionary API

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