# physical

Pronunciation: say "FIZ-i-kuhl" /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kl̩/

## Adjective

1. Having to do with the body as distinct from the mind; bodily or corporeal.
   - Simple: Having to do with your body, not your mind or feelings.
   - _Years of physical labor had left his hands rough and strong._
   - _The therapist explained that grief can cause physical symptoms like fatigue and headaches._
2. Relating to the material world as perceived through the senses; tangible, concrete, real.
   - Simple: Real and able to be touched, not just an idea or a thought.
   - _The museum preserves physical artifacts alongside its digital archives._
   - _The lawyers requested physical evidence rather than relying on testimony alone._
3. Making use of bodily force or contact, often in a vigorous or aggressive way.
   - Simple: Using the body with force, like pushing or hitting.
   - _The defense played a physical style, wearing down the opposing forwards._
   - _Witnesses said the confrontation became physical after several minutes of shouting._
4. Conforming to the laws of nature, or in current use specifically relating to physics.
   - Simple: Following the laws of nature, or connected with the science of physics.
   - _It's a physical impossibility for matter to travel faster than light in a vacuum._
   - _She studied the physical properties of the new alloy, including its melting point and conductivity._
6. Sexual or carnal, as of desire, intimacy, or a relationship.
   - Simple: A gentle way of saying something involves sex or sexual touching.
   - _Their friendship slowly developed into a physical relationship._
   - _She admitted the affair had been purely physical, with no deeper feelings involved._
7. Denoting a map that shows the natural features of the landscape, such as mountains and rivers, rather than political boundaries.
   - Simple: Showing the natural shape of the land, like mountains and rivers, instead of country borders.
   - _A physical map of South America highlights the Andes and the Amazon basin._
   - _Unlike the political map on the opposite page, the physical map showed elevation instead of borders._

## Noun

5. A medical examination of the body, typically performed by a doctor to assess general health.
   - Simple: A check by a doctor to make sure your body is healthy.
   - _Pilots must pass regular physicals to keep their licenses._
   - _During his annual physical, the doctor noticed his blood pressure was elevated._

## Adjective

8. Relating to medicine or physicians; medical, or good for the health. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Having to do with medicine or doctors, or good for your health.
9. Medicinal; beneficial to health, curative, or therapeutic. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Good for your health, or helpful in curing sickness.

## Other meanings

- (noun) A material manifestation attributed to psychic forces, such as a form said to solidify from ectoplasm during a séance.

## Origin

Ancient Greek phusikḗ ("natural, physical"), from phúsis ("nature, form, kind"), became Latin physica ("study of nature"). Late Latin built physicālis on it, and English borrowed that form. Behind phúsis lies phúō ("grow").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/physical (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).