technical

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈtɛt.nɪ.kəl/ UK /ˈtɛk.nɪ.kəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #5019

Meanings

1

adj
Relating to a particular subject and needing special knowledge to be understood.

The report was full of technical terms that I didn't understand.
2

adj
Relating to machines, science, or technology.

The factory had to solve several technical problems before opening.
3

adj
Relating to the practical skill needed to do an activity well.

Her piano playing shows great technical ability.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to a particular... expert

2 adj · relating to machines,... technological

3 adj · relating to the practical... proficient

Opposites

non-technicalnontechnical

Word family

Derived forms aerotechnicalagrotechnicalampelotechnicalanthropotechnicalbiotechnicalelectrotechnicalgeotechnicalhistotechnicalhydrotechnicalhypertechnicalmedicotechnicalnanotechnical

Related forms technically technological technology

Appears in

Phrases (3)

See all

technical fault
a malfunction in a machine, system, or piece of technology

Adjective + noun
technical correction
a market-price decline interpreted as an adjustment after earlier rises

Adjective + noun
technical innovation
a new method or improvement in the practical technique of an activity

Adjective + noun

Idioms (1)

See all

technical debt
the long-term cost of choosing quick, messy solutions over careful ones

Etymology

From Late Latin technicus + -al, from Ancient Greek τεχνικός (tekhnikós), from τέχνη (tékhnē, “skill”). For the late 20th-century origin of the noun sense (vehicle), see Wikipedia.

*tetḱ- Proto-Indo-European τεχνικός Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# technical

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɛt.nɪ.kəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtɛk.nɪ.kəl/
**Frequency rank:** 5019

## Meanings
1. Relating to a particular subject and needing special knowledge to be understood.
2. Relating to machines, science, or technology.
3. Relating to the practical skill needed to do an activity well.

## Examples
- The report was full of technical terms that I didn't understand.
- The factory had to solve several technical problems before opening.
- Her piano playing shows great technical ability.

## Antonyms
- non-technical
- nontechnical

## Derived Forms
- aerotechnical
- agrotechnical
- ampelotechnical
- anthropotechnical
- biotechnical
- electrotechnical
- geotechnical
- histotechnical
- hydrotechnical
- hypertechnical
- medicotechnical
- nanotechnical

## Related Forms
- technically
- technological
- technology

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *tetḱ-
- Root: τεχνικός

## Etymology
From Late Latin technicus + -al, from Ancient Greek τεχνικός (tekhnikós), from τέχνη (tékhnē, “skill”). For the late 20th-century origin of the noun sense (vehicle), see Wikipedia.

## AI Etymology
Technical is from Late Latin technicus + -al, from Ancient Greek τεχνικός (tekhnikós), from τέχνη (tékhnē, “skill”). For the late 20th-century origin of the noun sense (vehicle), see Wikipedia. In present-day use, it can mean relating to a particular subject and needing special knowledge to be understood, or relating to machines, science, or technology. Derived formations include aerotechnical, agrotechnical, ampelotechnical, anthropotechnical, biotechnical.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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